sheds a doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sheds a doubt" is not correct in written English.
The correct expression is "casts doubt." Example: "His inconsistent statements shed a doubt on his credibility."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This uselessly sheds a doubt on the efficacy of medicinal plants.

F1000Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The non-linear increase of the RTD variance with bed height also shed a doubt on the validity of the dispersion concept.

Chemical Engineering Science

The proposed charter should in no way shed a doubt on the open-mindedness, tolerance and receptiveness of Quebec's society.

Huffington Post

Future sampling and experimentation at multiple chemosynthetic habitat types will, without a doubt, shed more light onto the roles of larval supply, settlement and recruitment in controlling the patterns of diversity on a global scale.

Plosone

The central role, tight regulation, and ubiquitous presence of fructose-bisphosphate aldolase in the glycolytic pathways of all organisms capable of classical (Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas) glycolysis sheds further doubt on a notable alternative being active in E. coli.

BMC Systems Biology

The first half of 2017 was a bit of a struggle, with the industry still trying to shed a lot of doubt and uncertainty leftover from 2016.

Forbes

And with control of Congress next year and beyond up for grabs, the extended timeline sheds serious doubt on whether a new NAFTA pact can be struck, jeopardizing one of Trump's central campaign themes.

The Washington Post

UPDATE: Additional information has come to light which sheds serious doubt on the veracity of a reported list of artists joining Stevie Wonder's boycott of Florida.

HuffPost

And it sheds further doubt on the motivations for Barr's actions in relation to the Mueller report.

Forbes

Dr Dyke, who is senior lecturer in vertebrate palaeontology at the University of Southampton, said: "This discovery sheds further doubt on the theory that the famous fossil Archaeopteryx - or 'first bird' as it is sometimes referred to - was pivotal in the evolution of modern birds.

BBC

This statistic sheds substantial doubt on the potential for Philbin to win the Super Bowl for Miami at all, since the last of these eight championships was won in 1979 by Chuck Noll's Pittsburgh Steelers, separating Philbin 35 years from history's favor.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace the phrase "sheds a doubt" with the more grammatically correct and widely accepted phrase "casts doubt" for improved clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "sheds a doubt"; instead, use the correct verb form "casts" with "doubt" to maintain grammatical accuracy and professional writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sheds a doubt" functions as a verb phrase intended to express the action of creating uncertainty or questioning the validity of something. However, it's important to note, as Ludwig AI indicates, that the correct expression is "casts doubt".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

8%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "sheds a doubt" attempts to convey the idea of creating uncertainty, it's considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the proper expression is "casts doubt". This analysis reveals that although examples exist across various contexts, including Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business, its infrequent usage and grammatical issues make it a less desirable choice. For improved clarity and credibility, replacing it with alternatives like "casts doubt on", "raises questions about", or "calls into question" is highly recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

casts doubt on

This alternative is a more standard and accepted way to express creating uncertainty about something.

raises questions about

This alternative suggests the emergence of new inquiries or uncertainties regarding a topic.

calls into question

This implies a more formal and direct challenge to the validity or reliability of something.

suggests uncertainty about

This alternative conveys a sense of ambiguity or lack of clarity surrounding a particular issue.

prompts skepticism regarding

This emphasizes a cautious or doubting attitude towards something.

fosters disbelief in

This indicates the generation of doubt or lack of faith in something.

undermines confidence in

This suggests a weakening of trust or assurance in something.

weakens the case for

This alternative implies that the argument or evidence supporting something becomes less convincing.

introduces reservations about

This alternative highlights concerns or hesitations regarding a particular topic.

plants the seed of suspicion about

This suggests subtly instilling a feeling of mistrust or doubt.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something creates uncertainty?

Instead of saying something "sheds a doubt", it's better to say it "casts doubt on" something. Other options include "raises questions about" or "calls into question".

Is "sheds a doubt" grammatically correct?

No, "sheds a doubt" is not considered grammatically correct. The correct phrase is "casts doubt on".

What does it mean to "cast doubt on" something?

To "cast doubt on" something means to cause people to feel uncertain about it or to lack confidence in it. It's similar to saying something "raises questions about" its validity or reliability.

Which is a more formal way to say "sheds a doubt"?

Since "sheds a doubt" is not standard, using "casts doubt on" is already a more formal and correct option. You could also say "calls into question" for a more emphatic and formal tone.