telling evidence

USAGE SUMMARY

"telling evidence" is a correct phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that supports a particular statement or opinion, like in the following example: The telling evidence in the case of Smith vs. Jones clearly shows that Jones was the one liable for the accident.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

The game in Minneapolis offered telling evidence of the Nets' weakness this season.

The New York Times - Sports

The silence of most cabinet ministers early yesterday afternoon was telling evidence of the dilemma.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nearly one-third of our children are either overweight or obese, which is telling evidence of greater social problems.

The New York Times

The skull is of an age, scientists said, that it could be expected to provide telling evidence of life at the time the human and chimpanzee lineages diverged.

The New York Times

If gay marriage opponents had essentially invented a procreative foundation for marriage in order to justify opposing same-sex wedlock, it would indeed be telling evidence of a movement groping for reasons to justify its bigotry.

The New York Times

One adversary, an archaeologist who has directed excavations there since 1988, contends that he has found telling evidence of Troy as a much larger and more important city than previously thought.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Froehlich-Grobe K, Nary DE, VanSciver A, Washburn RA, Aaronson L. Truth be told: evidence of wheelchair users' accuracy in reporting their height and weight.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

To me that's the strangest and most telling piece of evidence.

The New Yorker

I've seen way too much evidence telling me that is exactly what happens.

TechCrunch

Particularly telling recent evidence is that etanercept, the anti-TNF agent used off-label via an apparent i.c.v.

British Journal of Pharmacology

The evidence tells a different story.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "telling evidence" when you want to emphasize that certain evidence strongly suggests a particular conclusion. Ensure that the evidence you are describing is both relevant and persuasive.

Common error

Avoid using "telling evidence" to describe evidence that is merely suggestive or circumstantial. Reserve it for situations where the evidence is strong and directly supports your claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "telling evidence" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "telling" modifies the noun "evidence". It describes evidence that is particularly revealing or indicative of something. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "telling evidence" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that describes evidence strongly indicative of a particular conclusion. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various contexts, primarily in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business settings. When writing, ensure the evidence you describe as "telling" is genuinely persuasive and directly relevant to your claim. Consider using alternatives such as "compelling proof" or "significant indication" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compelling proof

Emphasizes the undeniable nature of the proof.

significant indication

Highlights the importance of the indication.

revealing sign

Focuses on the revealing or uncovering aspect of the sign.

conclusive demonstration

Stresses the definitive and resolving nature of the demonstration.

persuasive data

Highlights the convincing quality of the data.

strong indicator

Emphasizes the strength and reliability of the indicator.

clear signal

Focuses on the unambiguous nature of the signal.

important clue

Highlights the relevance of the clue.

noteworthy example

Emphasizes the remarkableness of the example.

significant fact

Highlights the importance of the fact.

FAQs

How can I use "telling evidence" in a sentence?

You can use "telling evidence" to describe facts or observations that strongly suggest a particular conclusion. For example, "The sudden drop in sales is "telling evidence" of declining customer interest".

What are some alternatives to using "telling evidence"?

Alternatives include "compelling proof", "significant indication", or "revealing sign" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the most telling evidence"?

Yes, it is correct. "The most telling evidence" emphasizes that the evidence being presented is the strongest and most revealing among all available evidence.

What's the difference between "telling evidence" and "circumstantial evidence"?

"Telling evidence" directly supports a conclusion, while "circumstantial evidence" only indirectly suggests a conclusion through inference and requires an interpretation of the facts.