sign of doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sign of doubt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate uncertainty or skepticism about a situation or statement. Example: "Her hesitation was a clear sign of doubt regarding the plan we proposed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Hanophy's absolute power remains unchanged, and he continues to exercise it with evident enjoyment, and without any sign of doubt.

The New Yorker

The appointment of a director of football is often seen as a sign of doubt in the team's manager, an admission that the manager cannot be trusted to bring the right players to the club.

The New York Times

In retrospect, we can see that his merely bog-standard belief in the innocence of his media man, Andy Coulson, was really a sign of doubt rather than faith.

The Guardian - Opinion

Blair said that he could not at this point afford to give Bush any sign of doubt, even if he went against what the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, was telling him at the time.

The Guardian - Opinion

In a first sign of doubt from within the interim cabinet installed after the military takeover, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Ziad Bahaa El-Din said the government must not copy the "oppressive" policies of its foes.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Isn't illiquidity always a sign of doubts about solvency?

The New York Times

And it was possible to pick up signs of doubt.

The Guardian

Enzo is also looking for signs of doubt.

The Guardian - Sport

McElroy frequently punctuates his character's thought with parenthetical signs of doubt: "He drew these arrows on the board.

The New York Times - Books

Also intrigued to see Arthur exhibiting signs of doubt in his brother – that's not likely to end well.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

They report any signs of doubt, and if the young man seems to waver, a senior trainer will arrive to bolster his resolve.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sign of doubt", ensure the context clearly establishes what the doubt pertains to. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid jumping to conclusions based on a single "sign of doubt". Consider the overall context and other available information before interpreting someone's feelings or intentions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sign of doubt" functions as a noun phrase that identifies something which indicates a feeling of uncertainty or skepticism. Ludwig provides examples where it describes behaviors or situations that betray a lack of confidence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sign of doubt" serves as a clear indicator of uncertainty or skepticism. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly appears in news and media contexts. Related phrases include "indication of uncertainty" and "hint of skepticism", offering alternative ways to express similar meanings. When using this phrase, be sure to clearly establish the object of the doubt. While Ludwig confirms its usability, remember to consider the broader context before drawing conclusions based solely on a single "sign of doubt".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indication of uncertainty

Replaces "sign" with "indication" to highlight the act of pointing to uncertainty.

hint of skepticism

Substitutes "doubt" with "skepticism", emphasizing disbelief or questioning.

trace of uncertainty

Uses "trace" instead of "sign" to imply a subtle indication of doubt.

element of uncertainty

Replaces "sign of doubt" with a more abstract concept, focusing on the presence of uncertainty.

suspicion of doubt

Highlights the presence of doubt.

air of uncertainty

Implies an atmosphere surrounding a situation, indicating doubt.

feeling of uncertainty

Focuses on the subjective experience of doubt.

suggestion of uncertainty

Emphasizes a subtle or indirect indication of doubt.

shadow of uncertainty

Implies a looming presence of doubt, affecting confidence.

presence of uncertainty

Highlights the existence of doubt without specifying its manifestation.

FAQs

How can I use "sign of doubt" in a sentence?

You can use "sign of doubt" to indicate a feeling of uncertainty or skepticism. For example, "Her hesitation was a clear sign of doubt about the proposed plan."

What's the difference between "sign of doubt" and "hint of doubt"?

"Sign of doubt" suggests a more noticeable or evident indication, whereas "hint of doubt" implies a more subtle or slight indication of uncertainty.

What can I say instead of "sign of doubt"?

Alternatives include "indication of uncertainty", "hint of skepticism", or "trace of uncertainty", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "signals of doubt" instead of "sign of doubt"?

Yes, "signals of doubt" is also correct, but it suggests multiple indicators rather than a single, distinct sign. The choice depends on whether you are referring to one particular indication or several.