this is doubtful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this is doubtful" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to express uncertainty or skepticism about a particular statement or situation. Example: "The success of this project is doubtful, considering the limited budget and lack of resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

This is doubtful.

Forbes

That they did much more than this is doubtful.

Britannica

The time limit is meant to be helpful to challengers, although this is doubtful.

The Economist

The criteria include "cost savings and good service", and across all of them the report concludes: "this is doubtful".

The Guardian

All this is doubtful: "Pagliacci" is derived from French and Spanish plays, not from police reports, and the prologue only emphasizes the artifice.

The New Yorker

Whether anyone, including himself, believed this is doubtful and it is further evidence of his innate contrariness that such a declaration of intent should precede a book he now describes as the 'most Jewish novel that has ever been written by anybody, anywhere'.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

As in previous studies, no clinical events occurred related to this neutropenia and its relevance as a safety signal in this population is doubtful.

Plosone

The age of this skeleton is doubtful.

Harvard University

Whether Mr Menem could do this job is doubtful.

The Economist

Whether Williams shareholders will slog through this tome is doubtful.

The New York Times

"Whether he is OK to play two games this weekend is doubtful.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this is doubtful" to express polite skepticism when directly contradicting someone might be too harsh. It's a nuanced way of disagreeing without being confrontational.

Common error

Avoid using "this is doubtful" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "unlikely", "questionable", or "uncertain" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this is doubtful" functions as a statement expressing skepticism or uncertainty. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly used for expressing a degree of disbelief. The examples show its use across various contexts to question the validity or likelihood of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this is doubtful" serves as a grammatically sound and commonly used expression of skepticism or uncertainty. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English writing. While appropriate for news, academic, and professional contexts, varying your language with synonyms like "unlikely" or "questionable" is advised to enhance writing engagement. Top authoritative sources include The New York Times and The Guardian. The phrase is best used to politely express disagreement and should be avoided when expressing absolute certainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this seems unlikely

Replaces "is doubtful" with "seems unlikely", maintaining a similar degree of uncertainty.

this appears questionable

Substitutes "is doubtful" with "appears questionable", suggesting the statement lacks credibility.

this remains unconfirmed

Indicates that the statement hasn't been verified, implying doubt.

the veracity of this is uncertain

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize uncertainty about the truthfulness of the statement.

it is improbable that this will happen

Uses "improbable" instead of "doubtful", expressing a low probability of occurrence.

there's reason to doubt this

Directly states that there are reasons to be skeptical of the statement.

i'm skeptical about this

Expresses personal skepticism towards the statement.

this notion is dubious

Replaces the entire phrase with "this notion is dubious", conveying a sense of mistrust.

this is open to question

Suggests that the statement is not settled and can be challenged.

the validity of this is in doubt

Focuses on the validity, implying uncertainty about its correctness.

FAQs

How can I use "this is doubtful" in a sentence?

You can use "this is doubtful" to express uncertainty or skepticism about a claim. For example: "Whether the project will succeed is doubtful, given the current challenges."

What are some alternatives to saying "this is doubtful"?

Alternatives include "this seems unlikely", "this appears questionable", or "it is improbable that this will happen", depending on the context.

Is "this is doubtful" formal or informal?

"This is doubtful" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's suitable for news, academic writing, and professional communication but might be less common in casual conversation.

When should I avoid using "this is doubtful"?

Avoid using "this is doubtful" if you want to express absolute certainty. In situations where you have strong evidence or proof, a more definitive statement is more appropriate.