a central assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a central assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a fundamental belief or premise that underlies a theory, argument, or analysis. Example: "In our research, we identified a central assumption that influenced our findings significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Indeed, a central assumption of the systems view is that the individual and the environment are in constant interaction.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Both the Greek government and its European and IMF rescuers admit that the country has no hope of tapping private capital markets in 2012, a central assumption of the original plan.

The Economist

But the National Health Service remains Britain's great institutional conundrum — the only source of free medical care for most people, a central assumption of British life, at once beloved and reviled for its blend of administrative bungling and miracle moments, yet now jeopardized by reformist zeal.

The New York Times

The study analyzed a central assumption of one proposed change to medical practice: that patients who enjoy regular access to their primary doctors cost less, since they are less likely to go to an emergency room or to require hospitalization than patients who are unable to see a doctor regularly.

The New York Times

A central assumption in health utility measurement is that preferences satisfy transitivity.

Health Economics Review

A central assumption in the theory is loss aversion: losses are valued more heavily than gains.

European Transport Research Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Camus, on the contrary, builds an entire worldview on his central assumption that absurdity is an unsurpassable relationship between humans and their world.

SEP

The general validity of the trade-off hypothesis and of its central assumption of a positive correlation between parasite multiplication and virulence has been questioned for more than a decade.

Plosone

Second, for a host-parasite system the central assumption of the trade-off hypothesis may hold only for specific combinations of parasite and host genotypes under particular environmental conditions.

Plosone

In late June, in an issue of The New Republic devoted to answering the question "Were We Wrong?" an editorial acknowledged that "the central assumption underlying this magazine's strategic rationale for war now appears to have been wrong".

The New York Times

In [14], the diffusion model is used with the central assumption to have a source effusing gas which is one of the possible destination points.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a central assumption", clearly articulate the assumption and its potential impact on your analysis or argument to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid presenting claims as definitive facts when they are based on "a central assumption". Always acknowledge the assumption to maintain transparency and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a central assumption" functions as a noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatical correctness. It typically introduces a foundational belief or premise upon which a larger argument or theory is built. As shown by Ludwig, the structure "a central assumption" is widely used to specify a key element upon which something relies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

21%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a central assumption" is a noun phrase used to introduce a core belief or premise that underpins an argument, theory, or analysis. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in science, news, and encyclopedias. When employing this phrase, it's best practice to clearly articulate the assumption and its potential impact, while avoiding the pitfall of presenting claims as definitive facts without acknowledging the underlying assumption. Alternatives include "a key underlying premise" or "a fundamental presupposition". By understanding its function, purpose, and common usage patterns, you can effectively incorporate "a central assumption" into your writing to enhance clarity and transparency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a key underlying premise

Emphasizes the foundational nature of the premise.

a fundamental presupposition

Highlights that the assumption is taken for granted beforehand.

a core belief

Focuses on the belief aspect, suggesting it's a deeply held conviction.

a basic tenet

Implies the assumption is a principle or doctrine.

a primary axiom

Suggests a self-evident truth or starting point for reasoning.

a foundational principle

Highlights the role of the principle in establishing a base.

a major premise

Focuses on the role of the assumption in forming a conclusion or argument.

the main hypothesis

Specifically refers to an assumption made for the sake of testing.

an essential element

Indicates that the assumption is a necessary part of something.

a critical starting point

Emphasizes its importance as an initial consideration.

FAQs

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

You can use "a central assumption" to introduce a fundamental belief or premise upon which an argument, theory, or analysis is based. For example, "A central assumption of this study is that consumers behave rationally."

What are some alternatives to using "a central assumption"?

You can use alternatives like "a key premise", "a fundamental presupposition", or "a core belief" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to state "a central assumption" explicitly?

While not always required, explicitly stating "a central assumption" enhances transparency and allows readers to critically evaluate the foundation of your argument or analysis.

What happens if "a central assumption" proves to be incorrect?

If "a central assumption" is proven incorrect, the conclusions or theories built upon it may need to be revised or reconsidered. This highlights the importance of critically evaluating the validity of underlying assumptions.