a bad assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a bad assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a belief or idea that is incorrect or unfounded. Example: "Making a bad assumption about the project's timeline can lead to significant delays and complications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"That's not a bad assumption," Low said today.

The New York Times - Sports

A bad assumption will yield a bad estimate, even if the model itself is accurate.

The New York Times

It is not a bad assumption, as far as assumptions go.

The Guardian - Money

Maybe it was a bad assumption, but it got me through the day.

The New Yorker

"People who assume I want to run for elected office may be dealing from a bad assumption," he said.

The New York Times

So I believe on the whole that diminishing marginal utility is not such a bad assumption, but this clearly relies on that, so you're right but I don't think that's the critical problem.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

That, of course, assumes the recipient got the file attachment at all--which is a bad assumption--and that the person has Word, PowerPoint or Acrobat to read it.

Forbes

I.e., a force designed to win major wars could handle small wars, a demonstrably bad assumption as evidenced in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Huffington Post

That's a really bad assumption, because we have to remember, this organism, the chimpanzee, has an evolutionary history just as long as ours.

University of California, Berkeley

He added: "The industry was not prepared because it believed it had mitigated the risk … And that clearly was a very bad assumption".

The Guardian - Business

If you've bought a song or album, Ping assumes you like it (bad assumption), but none of your actual listening activity appears in your stream.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a bad assumption", clearly articulate why the assumption is flawed or incorrect to strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the consequences of "a bad assumption" without providing sufficient evidence or context. Overstating the impact can weaken your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a bad assumption" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a specific type of assumption. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting an assumption considered to be flawed or incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a bad assumption" is a noun phrase used to denote a flawed or incorrect belief, commonly employed across diverse contexts such as news, academia, and formal communications. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and serves the purpose of questioning the validity of a premise. Related phrases include "a flawed premise" and "an incorrect supposition", each carrying slight variations in meaning. When using "a bad assumption", ensure to clearly articulate the reasons for its flaws to strengthen your argument. Remember that overstating the impact of "a bad assumption" without evidence can weaken your credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a flawed premise

Emphasizes the logical defect in the starting point.

an incorrect supposition

Highlights the factual inaccuracy of the belief.

a false belief

Focuses on the untrue nature of the conviction.

a mistaken notion

Underscores the error in understanding.

an unfounded assumption

Stresses the lack of evidence or basis for the belief.

a dubious hypothesis

Suggests the idea is questionable and requires further scrutiny.

a weak foundation

Implies the underlying basis for a decision or argument is unstable.

a shaky conclusion

Highlights the uncertainty and potential instability of the deduced outcome.

a misguided expectation

Focuses on the misdirection or misjudgment in anticipating a certain outcome.

a fallacious inference

Emphasizes the logical error in deriving a conclusion from given information.

FAQs

How can I use "a bad assumption" in a sentence?

You can use "a bad assumption" to point out a flawed premise or incorrect belief. For example: "Relying on a bad assumption can lead to poor decision-making."

What are some alternatives to saying "a bad assumption"?

You can use alternatives like "a flawed premise", "an incorrect supposition", or "a false belief" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a wrong assumption" or "a bad assumption"?

Both "a wrong assumption" and "a bad assumption" are acceptable, but "a bad assumption" often implies that the assumption led to negative consequences or poor decisions. "A wrong assumption" simply indicates an inaccuracy.

What makes an assumption "a bad assumption"?

An assumption becomes "a bad assumption" when it's based on inaccurate information, flawed logic, or a lack of evidence, leading to undesirable outcomes or incorrect conclusions.