a questionable assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a questionable assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a belief or idea that lacks sufficient evidence or is open to doubt. Example: "The study's conclusions are based on a questionable assumption that all participants had similar backgrounds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

That is a questionable assumption.

The New York Times

That is now looking a questionable assumption.

The Guardian - Business

That's always a questionable assumption, but in the case of skilled immigrants it's simply wrong.

The New Yorker

At the time, these were seen as temporary setbacks to an inexorable process, but that now looks like a questionable assumption.

The Guardian - Business

This is not just a questionable assumption; this approach has been refuted at length in the new book, "The Bankers' New Clothes," by Anat Admati and Martin Hellwig.

The New York Times

And that will happen only if European leaders make the right decisions — a questionable assumption — and demand from Asia and the United States strengthens.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The time and space invariant diffusion coefficient is an questionable assumption, but it is often supported by measures on the real concrete elements (Saassouh and Lounis 2012).

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

That now looks like a highly questionable assumption.

The Guardian - Business

In the light of its actions, it is a highly questionable assumption.

The New York Times

Furthermore, we believe that the authors made a very questionable assumption in the calculation of the residue curve map in the transformed composition space in the case of the DEC synthesis, and thus, we will present a residue curve map that does not rely on that assumption.

Chemical Engineering Science

Balsillie, in one of his trademark rants, fired back at prattling skeptics on the last quarterly earnings call in December: "These business models are highly shifting, and if people think there's a straight-ahead shot for everybody and it's all just predictably extended the way it's going now, I think that's a highly questionable assumption".

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a questionable assumption", always follow it with an explanation of why the assumption is questionable. Providing context and evidence will strengthen your argument and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is "a questionable assumption" without providing any supporting evidence or reasoning. This can weaken your argument and leave the reader unconvinced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a questionable assumption" functions as a noun phrase, specifically as a subject complement or object, modifying or describing a statement, theory, or argument. It highlights a premise that is open to doubt or lacks sufficient evidence. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is appropriate for written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

42%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a questionable assumption" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for indicating doubt or skepticism about a premise. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. While not overwhelmingly common, it appears frequently in both scientific and news media contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to provide context and justification for why the assumption is considered questionable. Alternatives like "a dubious premise" or "a shaky supposition" can be used to express similar, though subtly different, nuances of doubt.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a dubious premise

Replaces "assumption" with "premise", implying a foundational statement that is doubtful.

a shaky supposition

Substitutes "questionable" with "shaky" and "assumption" with "supposition", indicating a weak foundation.

a flimsy belief

Replaces "assumption" with "belief" and uses "flimsy" to highlight the lack of strength in the idea.

a suspect hypothesis

Replaces "assumption" with "hypothesis", indicating a scientific proposition of uncertain validity.

a challengeable claim

Focuses on the disputable nature of the statement, using "claim" instead of "assumption".

a contestable assertion

Emphasizes that the statement can be argued against, using "assertion" instead of "assumption".

a refutable idea

Highlights that the idea can be proven wrong, a stronger statement than merely being questionable.

a tenuous inference

Indicates that the conclusion drawn is weakly supported, substituting "assumption" with "inference".

an unreliable presumption

Uses "unreliable" to express the lack of dependability of the "presumption".

a specious argument

Highlights that the reasoning may appear correct but is actually flawed, a stronger criticism.

FAQs

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

You can use "a questionable assumption" to introduce doubt about a statement or idea, for example: "The model's accuracy relies on "a questionable assumption" that consumer behavior remains constant."

What are some alternatives to saying "a questionable assumption"?

Alternatives include "a dubious premise", "a shaky supposition", or "a flimsy belief". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "questionable assumption" or "dubious assumption"?

Both "questionable assumption" and "dubious assumption" are valid, but "dubious" suggests a stronger degree of doubt or suspicion than "questionable".

When should I use "a questionable assumption" instead of "an assumption"?

Use "a questionable assumption" when you want to explicitly highlight that the assumption is not well-supported or that it might be incorrect. If the assumption is simply a starting point without any inherent doubt, use "an assumption".