doubt

Many students online email me with their "doubts" about English grammar or pronunciation. When you have a doubt, you are unsure about something, or you don’t believe that something is true:

• Jennifer has her doubts about her daughter’s decision to get married.
• The teacher has some doubts about the new textbook she’s using.
• This is, without a doubt, the best pie you have ever made.
• There’s no doubt about it–this company is going to have a large profit this year.

The word "doubt" is often used as a verb:

• Tom doubts his ability to fix his own car; that’s why he takes it to a mechanic.
• The tellers at the bank doubted the identity of a customer, so they asked him for some I.D.
• I’ll never doubt you again!
• I’m sorry I doubted you.

Tom never doubts his mechanic is telling him the truth about his car.

Note: The "b" in the word "doubt" is silent.

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This page was originally published on November 27, 2011.

Updated on December 11, 2018