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I'd like to carefully say that people not well trained in a field think that some solution X basically closes the whole problem Y, which is false. But instead of saying it is a common misconception, I'm saying it carefully: it is not uncommon.

I don't want to say "it is a common belief that X ends the search for Y" because that's not careful: experts know what's going on, but they'll also recognize that some people do have misconceptions and this is surely a case. At the same time I don't want to say something that sounds too odd or unnatural. How would you say it? (Do keep in mind that this is very formal writing, of course.)

Related question.

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  • completes the search for (I would edit, though we are not really supposed to do that).
    – Lambie
    Mar 1, 2019 at 16:35
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    Is there a reason you need to be so terse? Why not explain the situation more verbosely? E.g. "Some people mistakenly believe that solution X completely solves problem y and therefore, more research is unnecessary."
    – Juhasz
    Mar 1, 2019 at 16:45
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    This sounds like scientific writing. As a former physicist, I don't believe you need to be so careful to avoid offending people in science. Almost all scientists value truth and clarity over feelings. You may be working in a more sensitive environment, however, if you're outside of North America and Europe.
    – hguler
    Mar 1, 2019 at 17:48
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    One final comment: if this is in particle physics, "X ends the search for Y" is better than "X completes the search for Y." All your colleagues will immediately understand the former; they will have to think about the latter and wonder why you didn't just use the standard lingo.
    – hguler
    Mar 1, 2019 at 17:48
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    That X obviates the search for Y is shown to be a misconception.
    – Jim
    Mar 1, 2019 at 18:13

1 Answer 1

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Perhaps something along the lines of

"One might think that X ends the search for Y; however, this is not the case..."

You could leave it there, or, if you wish to clarify further, continue with "because..."

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  • That is a pretty good suggestion. Thanks!
    – user338395
    Mar 7, 2019 at 17:13

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