that could be true

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that could be true" is correct and usable in written English.
You typically use the phrase to express skepticism or express uncertainty. For example, "I heard his car was green, but that could be true."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Unfortunately, that could be true.

The New Yorker

ROSS: In theory, that could be true.

The Washington Post

In a tight enough race, that could be true.

The Economist

There is no way — simply no way — that could be true.

The New Yorker

Arguably, that could be true for Mr. Gingrich, as it was for Mr. Brown.

The New York Times

It is a scenario that could be true, because we tend to overreact to things we don't understand.

University of California, Berkeley

"Maybe the father did feel the kid was exploited and in some sense that could be true".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

The epistemological significance of non-Euclidean geometry rests more on the possibility that it could be true in whatever way that Euclidean geometry could be true.

SEP

As you read that last line, notice whether you can accept that it could be true.

Los Angeles Times

The claim that moral judgments could not be true or false became the claim that they could be true or false only in a minimal or deflationary sense.

SEP

That certainly could be true.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that could be true" to express uncertainty or qualified agreement, signaling that you acknowledge a statement's possibility without fully endorsing it.

Common error

Avoid using "that could be true" excessively in formal contexts, as it can sound noncommittal. Opt for more direct and assertive language when presenting factual information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that could be true" functions as a modal expression used to indicate possibility or qualified agreement. It acknowledges a statement's potential validity without fully committing to it. Ludwig AI highlights that its use implies uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

18%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "that could be true" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate possibility, uncertainty, or qualified agreement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to acknowledge a statement without fully endorsing it. Predominantly found in news and media, science, and academic sources, its usage spans diverse contexts, as the example sentences suggest. Alternative phrases such as "that might be the case" or "that seems plausible" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that might be the case

Replaces "could" with "might", suggesting a slightly lower degree of possibility.

that is possibly correct

Uses "possibly" to emphasize the uncertainty of the statement's correctness.

that is potentially true

Substitutes "potentially" for "could", highlighting the inherent possibility.

that is conceivably true

Replaces "could" with "conceivably", indicating the statement is within the realm of possibility, though perhaps unlikely.

that seems plausible

Shifts from explicitly addressing truth to assessing the believability of the statement.

that sounds credible

Focuses on the apparent trustworthiness or reliability of the statement.

it is not impossible

Expresses possibility by negating impossibility, a more indirect form of affirmation.

i wouldn't rule that out

Indicates openness to the possibility, without fully committing to its truth.

it remains a possibility

Highlights that the statement's truth is still a potential outcome.

i suppose that's possible

Conveys a hesitant or reluctant acknowledgement of possibility.

FAQs

How can I use "that could be true" in a sentence?

You can use "that could be true" to express that you think something is possible, but you are not sure. For example, "He said he saw a ghost, and "that could be true"."

What is a synonym for "that could be true"?

Some synonyms for "that could be true" are "that might be the case", "that seems plausible", or "that is potentially true".

When is it appropriate to use "that could be true"?

It's appropriate to use "that could be true" when you want to express a possibility or acknowledge a statement without fully agreeing with it. It's often used when you lack sufficient information to confirm or deny something.

What does "that could be true" imply?

The phrase "that could be true" implies a degree of uncertainty or skepticism. It suggests that while something is possible, it hasn't been definitively proven or verified.