"A Benefit of a Doubt" or "The Benefit of the Doubt": Which Is Correct?

The correct expression is "the benefit of the doubt," which means giving someone a favorable judgment or opinion when there is uncertainty.

For example, imagine a co-worker who has always been punctual suddenly arrives late for work without providing a clear explanation. Your initial reaction might be to assume the worst, such as being irresponsible or neglecting their duties. However, to give them the benefit of the doubt, you decide to consider other possible reasons for their tardiness, like a family emergency or transportation issue. By doing so, you choose to trust their intentions until you have more information.

Let us take another example. Say you are a student in high school, and your wallet was stolen. The last place you saw your wallet was in the science class you take. The teacher and students of that class had gone out to the school field to do an outdoor science experiment. The last person who left the classroom was a boy named Paul who is known for having stolen something before. Paul himself, however, ardently claims that he did not steal the wallet. Although he may seem like the obvious culprit, you and your classmates decide to give him the benefit of the doubt. You choose to trust his word and maybe even consider other possibilities, like perhaps you dropped it in the hallway between classes.

When is the expression used?

The expression is commonly used in situations in which someone is choosing to be trusting and understanding when faced with ambiguities or lack of conclusive evidence. Giving a person or statement the benefit of the doubt means accepting or believing them or it even though there is a possibility of an unwanted truth.

Giving the benefit of the doubt suggests assuming the best about a person's intentions or actions even when you are not certain of the truth. It is also a conscious decision to regard something or someone as the truth or justified if the contrary has not been proven.

Native speakers of English will not commonly say the incorrect "a benefit of a doubt" because the correct idiom "the benefit of the doubt" is so strongly embedded into the language. Non-native speakers, however, may incorrectly remember the phrase and mistakenly use the article "a" instead of "the" in the expression.

The use of the expression over time

As shown in the Google Books Ngram Viewer, the correct idiom "the benefit of the doubt" was used far more extensively than the incorrect "a benefit of a doubt." The correct expression seemed to have reached a peak in the early 1900s and another one in the 2000s.

Not surprisingly, the expression is a legal term that dates back to possibly the 1700s. Because many legal systems advocate "innocent until proven guilty," the idiom "the benefit of the doubt" makes sense, as you would not want to make a Type 1 error (e.g. sending an innocent person to jail).

Example sentences

Even though she arrived late to the meeting, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and assume there was a valid reason.
He seemed sincere in his apology, so I decided to grant him the benefit of the doubt.
I don't have concrete evidence of his innocence, but I'm willing to extend the benefit of the doubt until further information comes to light.
When in doubt about someone's intentions, it's always a good practice to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Despite the suspicions, she gave her friend the benefit of the doubt and chose to trust her.
The manager decided to give the new employee the benefit of the doubt and let them explain their actions.
Sometimes, offering the benefit of the doubt can lead to improved relationships and better understanding.
In the absence of clear evidence, it's a fair approach to provide the benefit of the doubt to those facing accusations.
The teacher showed kindness by giving the student the benefit of the doubt regarding the missing assignment.
To maintain a healthy friendship, it's essential to grant your friends the benefit of the doubt during challenging times.

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