to corroborate

USAGE SUMMARY

"to corroborate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to make a statement more convincing by giving evidence that supports it. For example, "My father corroborated my story when he testified in court."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Other evidence seemed to corroborate his story.

The New Yorker

It was impossible to corroborate that assertion.

The New York Times

Li's research seems to corroborate this.

University of California, Berkeley

Such figures are hard to corroborate.

The New York Times

The figures appear to corroborate such criticism.

The Guardian

Video evidence appeared to corroborate this.

The Guardian

This claim was also impossible to corroborate.

The Guardian

Dotcom provided no evidence to corroborate this.

The Washington Post

No credible documents have emerged since to corroborate it.

The New Yorker

Additional research is needed to corroborate or disprove this hypothesis.

University of California, Berkeley

Have we been able to corroborate this threat?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to corroborate" when you want to emphasize that you are providing additional evidence to strengthen an existing claim or piece of information. Ensure that the evidence directly supports the statement you are trying to corroborate.

Common error

Avoid using "to corroborate" when you actually lack solid evidence. Saying something corroborates a claim when it only vaguely supports it weakens your argument and may mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to corroborate" primarily functions as an infinitive verb, indicating an action. According to Ludwig, it is used to provide additional evidence to support a claim or statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to corroborate" is a versatile and frequently used infinitive verb phrase that means to provide additional evidence to support a claim or statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It is most commonly found in news media, scientific, and academic contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using "to corroborate", ensure you have solid evidence to strengthen your argument. Alternatives include "to substantiate", "to validate", and "to confirm", offering subtle nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to substantiate

Focuses on providing evidence to prove the truth of something, emphasizing factual support.

to validate

Emphasizes confirming the accuracy or legitimacy of something, often through formal procedures.

to verify

Highlights the process of checking or confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

to confirm

A general term for establishing the truth or correctness of something, less formal than "substantiate".

to authenticate

Focuses on proving that something is genuine or real, often used in legal or historical contexts.

to attest to

Implies bearing witness to the truth of something, often in a formal or legal setting.

to bear out

Suggests providing evidence that supports or confirms a claim or statement.

to lend credence to

Focuses on making something believable or plausible by providing supporting evidence.

to give weight to

Implies adding importance or significance to a statement or claim through supporting evidence.

to back up

An informal way of saying to support or confirm something, often used in casual conversation.

FAQs

How can I use "to corroborate" in a sentence?

Use "to corroborate" when you want to provide additional evidence or support for a statement or claim. For example, "The witness's testimony helped "to corroborate" the victim's account of the events."

What are some alternatives to "to corroborate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "to substantiate", "to validate", or "to confirm" to express a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "to confirm" or "to corroborate"?

While both phrases suggest verifying information, "to corroborate" implies providing additional evidence or support to strengthen an existing claim. "To confirm" is more general and can simply mean to verify something's accuracy.

What's the difference between "to corroborate" and "to verify"?

"To verify" means to check or prove the truth of something, whereas "to corroborate" means to strengthen or support a statement with additional evidence. "To corroborate" adds weight to existing information, while to verify establishes initial truth.