a fatal assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fatal assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a belief or idea that is fundamentally flawed and could lead to serious consequences. Example: "The team's failure to consider alternative strategies was based on a fatal assumption that the current plan would succeed without any adjustments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But that was a fatal assumption.

The New Yorker

Unable to calculate speed because monitors were showing an impossible drop from 275 knots to 60 knots, one of the pilots appeared to make a fatal assumption that the plane was flying too fast and was in danger of breaching "coffin corner": the narrow aerodynamic envelope that keeps a plane flying at cruise altitude.

The Guardian

However, like Louis CK's experiment, this site assumes humans are good, kind, and honest – a fatal assumption in many cases.

TechCrunch

These responses make a fatal assumption, namely political debate is rational.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"We made the fatal assumption that we'd be examining diamonds in the rough," Mike Thompson, a cofounder, says.

Forbes

He made the fatal assumption that they were "just fishing".

Huffington Post

As Gen. Omar Bradley, the commander of the II Corps, remarked in his memoirs, "This belief came to be a near-fatal assumption".

Encyclopedia Britannica

We have a fatal attraction to fatality.

The New Yorker

A year later, Smith suffers a fatal heart attack.

Wikipedia

"Without that assumption, you would give up a negotiating chip without getting anything in return -- a fatal error in negotiating -- and may never even get to the table, since they could slam the door in your face.

The New York Times

A fatal disease.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a fatal assumption", ensure the context clearly demonstrates the severe consequences that stem from the incorrect belief. Providing specific details about these consequences will strengthen your argument and highlight the gravity of the error.

Common error

Avoid using "a fatal assumption" to describe minor mistakes or inconveniences. The term implies severe, possibly irreversible outcomes; misusing it diminishes its impact and can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fatal assumption" functions as a noun phrase, where 'fatal' acts as an adjective modifying 'assumption'. It is usually employed to characterize a belief or premise that leads to extremely negative or disastrous consequences, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

12.5%

Less common in

Wiki

12.5%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fatal assumption" is a noun phrase used to describe a belief that leads to disastrous consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides real-world examples from varied sources. While relatively rare in occurrence, the phrase carries significant weight. Use this expression when you want to emphasize the critical and potentially irreversible negative impact of an error in judgment. Be mindful of overstating the consequences; reserve it for situations where the outcomes are genuinely severe. As an alternative, expressions like "a critical error in judgment" can be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a critical error in judgment

Replaces "assumption" with a more general term for a flawed decision. Emphasizes the flawed decision-making process.

a disastrous conclusion

Focuses on the calamitous outcome of a line of thought. Emphasizes the catastrophic consequences.

a grave miscalculation

Highlights the severity of the mistake, suggesting significant consequences. Uses "miscalculation" to refer to the faulty computation.

a dangerous presumption

Emphasizes the risk associated with the unfounded belief. Focuses on the potential harm.

a flawed premise

Highlights that the basis of the action was not solid and well founded. Focuses on the incorrect reason or ground for an action or statement.

a misguided belief

Focuses on the flawed nature of the conviction or faith driving an action. Emphasizes the incorrect mental direction.

a costly oversight

Focuses on the negative consequences, specifically financial or resource-related costs. Emphasizes what has been ignored or missed.

a destructive notion

Highlights that the idea driving action had devastating consequences. Emphasizes the idea behind the failure.

an invalid hypothesis

Highlights that a scientific guess was wrong, leading to failure. Centers the mistake on scientific method.

a serious misunderstanding

Highlights the lack of correct understanding as the problem, leading to bad conclusions. Emphasizes the faulty communication and wrong concepts.

FAQs

How to use "a fatal assumption" in a sentence?

Use "a fatal assumption" to describe a belief or idea that, if acted upon, leads to disastrous consequences. For example, "Relying solely on past successes proved to be "a fatal assumption", as the market had significantly changed."

What can I say instead of "a fatal assumption"?

You can use alternatives like "a critical error in judgment", "a dangerous presumption", or "a grave miscalculation" depending on the specific context you intend.

What makes an assumption "fatal"?

An assumption becomes "fatal" when acting upon that assumption leads to significant negative outcomes, potentially resulting in failure, harm, or even destruction. It's not just incorrect, it's catastrophically wrong.

What's the difference between "a fatal assumption" and "a mistake"?

While both involve errors, ""a fatal assumption"" specifically refers to an incorrect belief or premise that leads to disastrous results. A "mistake" is a more general term for an error that might not necessarily have severe consequences.