a major assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

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

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

The lobbyist asked, "How could we spend soft money if he was opposed?" And, since soft money is a major assumption for the Bush fall campaign, he said, "We've spent a year as a party essentially planning a national campaign around a Bush candidacy.

The New York Times

Three weeks before the war in Iraq began, Bush administration officials based their plans for reconstructing the country on what they called a "major assumption" -- that military operations would end in 30 days, according to briefing documents circulated in the White House.

The New York Times

We can see that a major assumption is that source data are provided by the problem designers.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Suppose that the rational numbers are understood (this is of course a major assumption, but certainly the rationals are more easily understood than the reals).

SEP

A major assumption behind the benefits of sovereign money is that money would no longer be a liability of the central bank.

Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics

A major assumption is that the offender will not commit a crime in the area where he fears of being recognized by the residents [1].

Security Informatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

A second major assumption of IM is that there should be no intra-locus recombination [ 49].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Assuming the deal is adhered to by all those involved (an increasingly major assumption at this point), the JCPOA might indeed be labeled a success in the future.

Columbia University

In contrast, for an equilibrated WLC (SE) one major assumption is that the direction of the bending is not correlated.

Plosone

A major underlying assumption in ipsative measurement is that the one option that is most true will tend to be perceived as more positive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the background to all this, it is of course Russia that looms largest, and again a major western assumption is that the big bear is about to become some kind of malign beneficiary of the vote in Ukraine, rather than it being the people themselves who have just made an informed choice.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a major assumption", clearly state the assumption and its potential impact on your analysis or argument. This provides transparency and allows readers to assess the validity of your conclusions.

Common error

Avoid treating "a major assumption" as an absolute truth. Recognize and discuss potential weaknesses or alternative viewpoints, which enhances the credibility of your work.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a major assumption" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a significant premise or belief underlying an argument, theory, or analysis. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

20%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a major assumption" is a commonly used noun phrase to identify a significant premise in various contexts, especially in science, news, and academic writing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. When employing this phrase, clearly state the assumption and acknowledge its limitations to enhance credibility. Alternatives such as "a key assumption" or "a fundamental assumption" can be used for variety. By being aware of its function, purpose, and typical usage, you can effectively incorporate "a major assumption" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a key assumption

Emphasizes the importance of the assumption.

a fundamental assumption

Highlights the foundational nature of the assumption.

a core assumption

Focuses on the central aspect of the assumption.

a basic premise

Shifts from "assumption" to "premise", indicating a foundational statement.

a central tenet

Replaces "assumption" with "tenet", emphasizing a principle or belief.

a primary supposition

Uses "supposition" instead of "assumption", indicating something assumed to be true.

an underlying belief

Highlights the belief that supports an argument or theory.

a critical precondition

Emphasizes the necessary nature of the assumption.

a significant presumption

Substitutes "assumption" with "presumption", indicating a belief held before investigation.

a notable hypothesis

Replaces "assumption" with "hypothesis", suggesting a testable idea.

FAQs

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

You can use "a major assumption" to introduce a key premise or belief that underlies an argument or analysis. For example, "A major assumption of this study is that participants answered honestly."

What are some alternatives to "a major assumption"?

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

When is it appropriate to question "a major assumption"?

It's appropriate to question "a major assumption" when you suspect it might be flawed, unsupported by evidence, or when alternative explanations exist. Questioning assumptions can lead to deeper insights and more robust conclusions.

What's the difference between "a major assumption" and "a hypothesis"?

"A major assumption" is a belief taken as true without proof, while "a hypothesis" is a testable statement that can be proven or disproven through experimentation or observation.