a premise about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a premise about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the foundational idea or assumption underlying a particular argument or theory. Example: "The author presents a premise about the impact of climate change on global economies."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Hoffman, who founded LinkedIn, has a premise about how the economic world will work from now on.

The New Yorker

By Nicholas Lemann Hoffman, who founded LinkedIn, has a premise about how the economic world will work from now on.

The New Yorker

Everything about Reid Hoffman — his business, his political activities, his philanthropy, and his social life — is based on a premise about how the economic world will work from now on.

The New Yorker

Everything about Reid Hoffman his business, his political activities, his philanthropy, and his social life is based on a premise about how the economic world will work from now on.

The New Yorker

This type of argument he calls an argument from above, signifying that it begins with a premise about self-consciousness.

SEP

The second principle captures the idea that a universal premise can licence replacement of 'S' with 'P' in a premise about a specific individual.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Recently, Amazon has also ordered a pilot for a drama with a similar premise, about a group of female journalists who demand equal pay and opportunities at a prominent magazine at the dawn of the women's movement in 1969.

The Guardian

There was a central premise about a man-made island and two warring factions on it, but again, with no more than one or two characters who had actual names, and only a couple of lines tossed around between the (horribly constructed) missions, I have no idea how this got nominated for any sort of writing award.

Forbes

The Good Liar has an intriguing premise about a confidence man's scheme, and about lies people tell.

HuffPost

In Kant's conception, an argument of this kind begins with a compelling premise about our thought, experience, or knowledge, and then reasons to a conclusion that is a substantive and unobvious presupposition and necessary condition of this premise.

SEP

Conclusion: The paleo diet is a potentially healthy diet based on a valid premise about the harms associated with modern, processed foods.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a premise about", ensure the premise is clearly stated and directly relevant to the subsequent argument or discussion.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a premise about" as an established fact when it's still under debate or requires further substantiation. Instead, acknowledge its status as a starting point for exploration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a premise about" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces the foundational idea or assumption upon which an argument, theory, or discussion is based. It serves to specify the subject or focus of the premise, as illustrated by the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a premise about" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, used to introduce a foundational idea or assumption. While relatively infrequent, it appears primarily in academic and news contexts, indicating a formal or neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure the premise is clear and relevant to the ensuing discussion. Consider alternatives like "an assumption concerning" or "a hypothesis regarding" to fine-tune the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an underlying principle regarding

Uses 'underlying principle' instead of 'premise', stressing a fundamental rule.

a hypothesis regarding

Replaces 'premise' with 'hypothesis', focusing on a testable explanation.

a central tenet concerning

Substitutes 'premise' with 'central tenet', highlighting a core belief.

a foundational idea concerning

Replaces 'premise' with 'foundational idea', stressing the basic concept.

an assumption concerning

Substitutes 'premise' with 'assumption', highlighting an unproven belief.

a basic assumption relating to

Uses 'basic assumption' in place of 'premise', underscoring a fundamental belief.

a supposition on the subject of

Uses 'supposition' instead of 'premise', suggesting a tentative belief.

a presumption with regard to

Replaces 'premise' with 'presumption', emphasizing a belief held without proof.

a starting point in relation to

Rephrases as 'starting point', emphasizing the initial basis for reasoning.

a ground for belief about

Rephrases as 'ground for belief', focusing on the justification.

FAQs

How can I use "a premise about" in a sentence?

You can use "a premise about" to introduce a foundational assumption or idea. For example, "The argument rests on "a premise about" human nature."

What are some alternatives to using "a premise about"?

Alternatives include "an assumption concerning", "a hypothesis regarding", or "an underlying principle regarding", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. See the related phrases section for more options.

What's the difference between "a premise about" and "an assumption about"?

"A premise about" typically implies a starting point for reasoning, while "an assumption about" suggests something taken for granted without proof. Although similar, premises are typically more explicit and foundational to an argument.

Is it better to use "a premise about" or "the premise of"?

While both are correct, "a premise about" introduces a specific premise related to a topic, while "the premise of" refers to the core idea or foundation of a broader concept or work.