unreliable at best

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unreliable at best" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not dependable or trustworthy, suggesting that the situation is only marginally reliable. Example: "The weather forecast has proven to be unreliable at best, so we should prepare for unexpected changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

The results were unreliable at best.

Independent

The number of variations is almost bottomless, and the results are unreliable at best".

The New York Times - Arts

Electricity and water supplies in most cities are unreliable at best.

The New York Times

He characterized the prison system's notification as "incomplete and unreliable at best".

The New York Times

The evidence, Horwell suggested, was unreliable at best, dishonest at worst.

The Guardian

Their skills are unreliable at best, but, willy-nilly, they've caught a significant demographic moment.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

But in the case of citrus greening, pesticides are unreliable protection at best.

The New Yorker

Mr. Cherry's lawyers, in a pointed and sometimes mocking cross-examination, tried to portray him as an unreliable witness at best -- even a joke -- and said Mr. Burns took the F.B.I.'s money only to get drunk.

The New York Times

By the time she moved back in on April 21 after a week of cleaning, her landlord had replaced her damaged necessities, though as of Sunday, her hot water supply was an unreliable trickle at best.

The New York Times

Pesticides are a familiar weapon in Florida citrus groves: when McPhee visited, he saw crews battling pests with "a liquid arsenal ranging from a fine mist of petroleum to parathion, a deadly nerve gas developed by German scientists during the Second World War". But in the case of citrus greening, pesticides are unreliable protection at best.

The New Yorker

Transportation in Rome, reliably unreliable at the best of times, is not likely to grow efficient in 2000.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unreliable at best", consider the specific aspect of unreliability you wish to emphasize. For example, if you mean 'inconsistent', use 'spotty at best' instead.

Common error

Avoid using "unreliable at best" when the subject is consistently unreliable. If something is always unreliable, simply state that it is unreliable, rather than qualifying it with "at best".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unreliable at best" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It expresses a judgment about the quality or dependability of something, indicating it is scarcely reliable and possibly completely untrustworthy. Ludwig AI confirms this with multiple examples in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unreliable at best" functions as an adjectival phrase expressing a guarded assessment of something's dependability. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts. It is most prevalent in News & Media, followed by Science and Formal & Business settings. While "unreliable at best" is versatile, it's crucial to consider its precise implications and whether alternatives like "questionable at best" or "dubious at best" might better suit the intended nuance. Avoid using it when something is consistently unreliable; in those cases, "unreliable" alone is sufficient.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable at best

Replaces "unreliable" with "questionable", emphasizing doubt rather than a lack of dependability.

dubious at best

Similar to "questionable", "dubious" suggests uncertainty and potential dishonesty.

uncertain at best

Highlights the lack of certainty and predictability, focusing on the ambiguity.

tenuous at best

Implies the reliability is fragile or weak, easily broken or disproven.

shaky at best

Suggests a lack of solid foundation or stability, emphasizing potential collapse.

flawed at best

Focuses on inherent imperfections or defects that compromise reliability.

spotty at best

Indicates intermittent or inconsistent reliability, with periods of failure.

imperfect at best

Similar to "flawed", but with a broader implication of not meeting ideal standards.

patchy at best

Suggests that something works only in some areas or situations, but not consistently.

sketchy at best

Implies a lack of detail or completeness, raising suspicion about overall trustworthiness.

FAQs

How can I use "unreliable at best" in a sentence?

You can use "unreliable at best" to describe something that isn't dependable. For instance: "The data we collected was "unreliable at best", so we need to gather more information."

What is a similar phrase to "unreliable at best"?

Alternatives to "unreliable at best" include phrases like "questionable at best", "dubious at best", or "uncertain at best", each emphasizing a slightly different nuance of doubt or instability.

Is it better to say "unreliable at best" or simply "unreliable"?

Using "unreliable at best" suggests that there might be rare instances where the subject is reliable, but mostly it is not. If there are no instances of reliability, "unreliable" is more appropriate.

What does "unreliable at best" imply about the subject?

The phrase implies that the subject's reliability is very low. It's only marginally dependable. Using "tenuous at best" might emphasize its fragility more directly.