that appears questionable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that appears questionable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing doubt or uncertainty about the validity or reliability of something. Example: "The data provided in the report is incomplete, and the conclusions drawn from it that appears questionable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

They would be part of the approval process for loan applications submitted to the board and would immediately report to the F.D.I.C. any irregularities or transactions that appeared questionable.

The New York Times

During the three-year audit period, the commission's 18 employees used commission credit cards to run up more than $1.5 million in charges for "a significant amount of discretionary expenses that appeared questionable at best and even personal at times," the report said.

Los Angeles Times

While there's no shortage of DNA evidence that implicated O.J., the handling of that evidence appeared questionable at times during the trial.

HuffPost

And he said, 'What are all these n***ers doing in Brentwood?" While there's no shortage of DNA evidence that implicated O.J., the handling of that evidence appeared questionable at times during the trial.

Huffington Post

On Wednesday, Mr. Dunning fired a supporter who ran a mail-in ballot effort, saying, "We will not engage in any practices that might appear questionable, even if they are legal".

The New York Times

The Post report said Secretary Clinton believed "the former president has 'damaged' the 'Clinton brand' by entangling himself and his organizations in arrangements that could appear questionable".

Huffington Post

In that context, the importance of DNA metabolism appears questionable.

BMC Genomics

In the present non-dominated framework, however, it appears questionable but indeed rather unlikely that such a worst-case measure (bar {P}) exists in (mathcal {R}) for general claims.

Probability, Uncertainty and Quantitative Risk

In that case, the extent to which an architect's drawing represents a goal-oriented plan appears questionable, so deserving further exploration.

City, Territory and Architecture

The suggestion appears questionable.

The Guardian

This argument, nonetheless, appears questionable at least for two reasons.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that appears questionable", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific aspect is being questioned. Providing context enhances clarity and strengthens the argument.

Common error

While "that appears questionable" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your arguments seem weak. Vary your language by using stronger verbs or more direct expressions of doubt to convey your concerns more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that appears questionable" functions as a qualifier, casting doubt or expressing uncertainty about a preceding statement or idea. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that appears questionable" serves to express doubt or uncertainty in a relatively neutral tone. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While it is suitable for a variety of contexts, including news, scientific, and business writing, it should be used judiciously to avoid weakening arguments. Consider stronger alternatives or more direct expressions of doubt to convey your concerns more effectively. It is more commonly found in news and media sources, making it an important term to understand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that seems dubious

Replaces "appears" with "seems" and "questionable" with "dubious", offering a slightly stronger sense of doubt.

that looks suspicious

Substitutes "appears" with "looks" and "questionable" with "suspicious", highlighting a sense of distrust.

that raises doubts

Rephrases the entire expression to focus on the action of raising doubts about something.

that is of uncertain validity

Replaces "appears questionable" with a more formal and explicit statement of uncertainty about validity.

that gives rise to skepticism

Emphasizes the feeling of skepticism that the subject evokes.

that is open to doubt

Highlights the possibility of doubting the subject.

that is not entirely credible

Focuses on the lack of credibility of the subject.

that is under suspicion

Implies that the subject is being actively suspected of something.

that merits scrutiny

Suggests that the subject should be examined closely and carefully.

that is somewhat implausible

Replaces "questionable" with "implausible," indicating the subject is difficult to believe.

FAQs

How can I use "that appears questionable" in a sentence?

You can use "that appears questionable" to express doubt or uncertainty about something. For example: "The data provided in the report is incomplete, and the conclusions drawn from it "that appears questionable"."

What are some alternatives to "that appears questionable"?

You can use alternatives like "that seems dubious", "that raises doubts", or "that is of uncertain validity" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "that appears questionable" or "that is questionable"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "that is questionable" is more direct. "That appears questionable" can soften the statement, implying a degree of uncertainty rather than outright doubt. Use the one that best fits the tone and level of certainty you want to convey.

Can "that appears questionable" be used in both formal and informal writing?

Yes, "that appears questionable" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. However, in very formal contexts, consider stronger or more precise alternatives like "that merits scrutiny" or "that is not entirely credible".