sketchy facts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sketchy facts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe information that is unreliable, vague, or lacking in detail. Example: "The report was filled with sketchy facts that made it difficult to trust the conclusions drawn."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There's absolutely no way that tonight's Tea Party Debate isn't going to be amazing, so we'll be here live blogging the whole thing, providing important commentary on what the candidates are wearing, and breaking down their arguments with our own sketchy facts.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Little wonder then that a senior White House official was recently quoted as saying, "Even for us, details of the Indian program are always sketchy and hard facts thin on the ground".

Huffington Post

Compete has always been rather quiet about the way they actually gather data — and at times, it has sounded rather sketchy — but the fact of the matter remains constant: the data stinks.

TechCrunch

Historians offer a somewhat different account of what happened here, though the facts remain sketchy.

The New York Times

Microsoft later became sketchy on confirming that fact though.

TechCrunch

The facts were still sketchy from the scene — the jointly occupied island of Hispaniola.

The New York Times

The reason is straightforward: while his music is brilliantly detailed, his biographical facts remain painfully sketchy.

The New York Times - Arts

The facts are still sketchy and under investigation, and it is unknown whether the panel of 23 New Yorkers will have grounds to charge the detective, Anthony Vasquez, with a crime.

The New York Times

At first he implies that the culture of secrecy radiates from Bush, who could build a political career only by hiding inconvenient facts about his sketchy business dealings and frat boy past.

The New York Times - Books

Sketchy and sketch have, in fact, been among the most frequently attested words culled from Eble's students for the past several semesters.

The New York Times - Magazine

Our knowledge of microRNAs in basal deuterostomes is sketchy at best, despite the fact that four genomes are available at various stages of completion.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid relying solely on "sketchy facts" to support your argument. Corroborate with more reliable sources whenever possible.

Common error

Be cautious about presenting "sketchy facts" as definitive truths. Always qualify them as potentially unreliable and seek corroborating evidence to strengthen your claims.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sketchy facts" functions as a description, modifying the noun "facts" with the adjective "sketchy". As seen in the Ludwig examples, this phrase suggests that the information presented as "facts" is questionable or unreliable. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sketchy facts" describes information of questionable reliability or completeness. While grammatically sound and understandable, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is infrequent and primarily found in news and media contexts. For formal or scientific writing, consider using alternatives such as "dubious facts" or "unreliable information". When employing "sketchy facts", provide adequate context about the information's limitations and always seek corroborating evidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dubious facts

Replaces "sketchy" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the uncertainty of the facts.

unreliable information

Shifts the focus to the trustworthiness of the information itself.

questionable data

Emphasizes the data's validity being in doubt.

vague details

Focuses on the lack of clarity and precision in the details.

incomplete evidence

Highlights the lack of comprehensive supporting evidence.

tenuous assertions

Replaces "facts" with "assertions" emphasizing that they may not be well-supported.

shaky evidence

Implies the evidence is not solid or dependable.

uncertain details

Focuses on the lack of certainty surrounding the details.

unverified claims

Highlights that the claims have not been confirmed or authenticated.

flimsy evidence

Suggests that the evidence is weak and easily refuted.

FAQs

How can I use "sketchy facts" in a sentence?

You can use "sketchy facts" to describe information that is unreliable or lacks sufficient detail. For example, "The report was based on "sketchy facts", making its conclusions questionable."

What are some alternatives to "sketchy facts"?

Alternatives to "sketchy facts" include "dubious facts", "unreliable information", or "questionable data", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "sketchy facts" in formal writing?

While "sketchy facts" is understandable, it might be more appropriate to use more formal alternatives like "unconfirmed reports" or "tenuous assertions" in formal writing.

What does it mean when someone describes information as "sketchy facts"?

When information is described as "sketchy facts", it means the information is not entirely trustworthy or well-supported. The details might be vague, incomplete, or potentially inaccurate.