a controversial assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a controversial assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a belief or idea that is likely to provoke disagreement or debate among people. Example: "The study is based on a controversial assumption that all participants have the same level of prior knowledge."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Both "Colossus" and Ferguson's previous book "Empire" proceed from a controversial assumption for which he makes no apologies: it is that empires have as often been a force for progress as a source of oppression.

The New York Times - Books

The first begins with a controversial assumption: that the fundamental laws of our world are metaphysically necessary, so that metaphysical possibility coincides with nomological possibility.

SEP

2. This way of putting the point assumes that contents can have different references with respect to different times; this is a controversial assumption discussion of which would take us too far afield.

SEP

BBC transport correspondent Richard Westcott says the new report is an attempt to shift the focus away from a controversial assumption of people not working on trains, and towards the benefits of providing lots of extra capacity on the rail network.

BBC

The terminal admission policy is based on a controversial assumption that the ICU is the best place to die in the hospital and ICU clinicians are skilled to perform adequate palliative care to dying patients.

Annals of Intensive Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The blatantly phallocentric bias of this account, which was supplemented by a highly controversial assumption of penis envy in the already castrated female child, proved troublesome for subsequent psychoanalytic theory.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But the difficulty then is that any such assumption is likely to be a deeply controversial assumption that many theists would certainly reject.

SEP

His suggestion that religion is the source of our values, working in a complementary way with science (p. 181, Figure 6.1), is an extremely controversial assumption with which many of the scientists mentioned in the book may disagree.

CBE Life Sciences Education

A standard, but controversial, assumption is that LFs are the input to semantic theory, not the phonological/orthographic objects we hear and see.

SEP

A final, potentially controversial assumption is that during the FSIGT, little of the pyruvate produced in the liver is oxidized for energy, and most is therefore exported as lactate.

Diabetes Care

However, as David DeGrazia has emphasized, this line of reasoning rests on an undefended (and controversial) assumption that we are essentially persons (DeGrazia 1999).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a controversial assumption", ensure that you clearly articulate the assumption itself, and briefly explain why it is considered controversial. Provide evidence or context to support your claim.

Common error

A common mistake is presenting "a controversial assumption" as fact without acknowledging opposing viewpoints or providing sufficient justification. Always address potential counterarguments to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a controversial assumption" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a specific type of assumption: one that is likely to be disputed or debated. Ludwig AI validates this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a controversial assumption" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase to denote an assumption that is likely to be disputed or debated. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English.

It appears frequently in scientific, news and media, and encyclopedia contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly articulate the assumption and acknowledge potential counterarguments. Alternative phrases include "a debatable premise" or "a contested hypothesis".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a debatable premise

Replaces "assumption" with "premise" and "controversial" with "debatable", focusing on the disputable nature of the starting point.

a contested hypothesis

Substitutes "assumption" with "hypothesis" and "controversial" with "contested", highlighting the challenge to its validity.

a questionable supposition

Replaces "assumption" with "supposition" and "controversial" with "questionable", emphasizing the doubt surrounding the idea.

a contentious claim

Shifts from "assumption" to "claim" and "controversial" to "contentious", focusing on the adversarial nature of the assertion.

a disputable belief

Uses "belief" instead of "assumption" and "disputable" in place of "controversial", highlighting the disagreement it provokes.

an arguable point

Replaces "assumption" with "point" and "controversial" with "arguable", focusing on its capacity for debate.

a challengeable notion

Substitutes "assumption" with "notion" and "controversial" with "challengeable", suggesting it can be contested.

a suspect presupposition

Replaces "assumption" with "presupposition" and "controversial" with "suspect", indicating doubt regarding its correctness.

a contentious inference

Shifts from "assumption" to "inference" and "controversial" to "contentious", highlighting the contentious derivation.

a debatable conviction

Replaces "assumption" with "conviction" and "controversial" with "debatable", emphasizing the disputable nature of the strong belief.

FAQs

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

You can use "a controversial assumption" to introduce an idea that is likely to be debated or challenged. For example, "The model's predictions are based on "a controversial assumption": that consumer behavior remains constant."

What's a good alternative to saying "a controversial assumption"?

Alternatives include "a debatable premise", "a contested hypothesis", or "a questionable supposition", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

What makes an assumption "controversial"?

An assumption is "controversial" when it is not widely accepted and is subject to significant debate or disagreement. This can be due to lack of evidence, conflicting evidence, or differing interpretations of available information.

Is it always bad to base an argument on "a controversial assumption"?

Not necessarily. Basing an argument on "a controversial assumption" can be acceptable if you acknowledge its contentious nature and provide strong justification for its use, or if the context warrants exploring alternative perspectives.