suspicious practices

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suspicious practices" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or behaviors that raise doubts or concerns about their legitimacy or honesty. Example: "The investigation revealed several suspicious practices within the organization that warranted further scrutiny."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But the issue blew up earlier this year when bloggers started reporting examples of suspicious practices in otherwise reputable journals.

The Guardian

A UK based technology consultant called Alan Pelz-Shaspe has told the Guardian that he reported alleged suspicious practices at Autonomy to the Serious Fraud Office a week before the completion of its sale on 3 October 2011.

The Guardian - Business

At one point, though, the home secretary dispatched an agent to Somerset to investigate reports that the two poets and their friends spoke in French-sounding accents, caroused and engaged in suspicious practices, among them "washing and Mending their Cloaths all Sunday".

The New York Times

Cohmad and the individuals named ignored or participated in suspicious practices that clearly indicated Madoff was running a fraud, the SEC contends in two suits, filed in federal court in Manhattan.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And if a user were to question a suspicious practice, ISPs might claim First Amendment rights to order information in whatever way they deem fit, and invoke trade secrecy protections to block scrutiny of those decisions.

Yale University

A palatial property in Highgate, swanky apartments overlooking the Thames and a £136m penthouse in the West End were among properties cited by Borisovich as examples of how money gained from suspicious business practices is transferred to the West.

Independent

Stephen M. Cutler, the head of the S.E.C.'s enforcement division, said at the same hearing, by a Senate Governmental Affairs subcommittee, that investigations and a recent survey had found widespread suspicious trading practices.

The New York Times

Once a marker of a business with suspicious tax practices, the phrase "cash only" has come to signify hipster entrepreneurialism at places like Stumptown Coffee at the Ace Hotel in Midtown Manhattan or the Emerson Bar in Brooklyn.

The New York Times

"We have been seeing a lot of very suspicious billing practices in New York," said James G. Potter, director of government relations and public policy at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, which has 118,000 members.

The New York Times

WALL STREET JOURNAL Questions Raised Over Bank of New York Mellon Pension Trades | Bank of New York Mellon, operating on behalf of two large public pension funds, took part in currency transactions likely to result in high costs, The Wall Street Journal said, analyzing data from the bank, which is already under investigation by regulators for suspicious trading practices.

The New York Times

Americans discovered in 2005 that their spooks were hoovering up vast quantities of internet traffic and scanning it for anything suspicious, a practice that has continued despite doubts about its legality.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain a neutral tone when initially presenting the information, even if you suspect wrongdoing. This allows the reader to form their own conclusions based on the evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "suspicious practices" as a blanket term without providing specific details or examples. This can weaken your argument and make it seem less credible. Always back up your claims with evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suspicious practices" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "suspicious" acts as a pre-modifying adjective describing the nature of the "practices". Ludwig AI validates its usage in describing actions that warrant further investigation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "suspicious practices" is a noun phrase used to describe actions or behaviors that raise concerns about legitimacy or honesty. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English. While grammatically correct and understandable, it is relatively rare, appearing most frequently in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, it is best to provide specific examples and maintain a neutral tone, while avoiding overgeneralizations. Alternatives such as "questionable activities" or "dubious dealings" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable activities

Replaces 'practices' with a more general term 'activities', suggesting actions without specifying routines.

dubious dealings

Emphasizes the untrustworthiness of the 'dealings' or transactions involved.

shady operations

Highlights the secretive and potentially illegal nature of the 'operations'.

irregular procedures

Focuses on the deviation from standard or accepted 'procedures'.

fishy behavior

Uses a more informal term ('fishy') to describe the overall 'behavior' that raises suspicion.

dodgy tactics

Suggests the use of dishonest or underhanded 'tactics'.

nefarious schemes

Implies evil or wicked 'schemes' are being carried out.

unscrupulous methods

Focuses on the lack of moral principles in the 'methods' used.

questionable conduct

Replaces 'practices' with a more formal term 'conduct', referring to behavior.

dubious methods

Highlights the doubtfulness and potential dishonesty of the 'methods'.

FAQs

How can I use "suspicious practices" in a sentence?

You can use "suspicious practices" to describe actions or behaviors that raise concerns about legitimacy or honesty. For example: "The audit revealed several "suspicious practices" within the company's financial reporting."

What are some alternatives to "suspicious practices"?

Some alternatives include "questionable activities", "dubious dealings", or "shady operations", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the term "suspicious practices"?

Use "suspicious practices" when you have reason to believe that certain actions deviate from established norms or legal standards, but you don't yet have definitive proof of wrongdoing. It suggests further investigation is warranted.

What's the difference between "suspicious practices" and "illegal activities"?

"Suspicious practices" implies potential wrongdoing that needs further investigation, while "illegal activities" refers to actions that have been confirmed to violate the law. "Suspicious practices" might lead to the discovery of "illegal activities".