a shaky assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a shaky assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a belief or idea that is uncertain or not well-founded. Example: "The project's success relies on a shaky assumption that the market will respond positively to the new product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

A rebound is a dangerously shaky assumption if you look beyond those green shoots and see that our nation may be in the throes of a rolling bankruptcy with no one left to bail us out.

Forbes

And that is a mighty shaky assumption.

Huffington Post

This is all on the shaky assumption that Labour ends up with 261 seats and the Liberal Democrats hold 54.

The Guardian

I don't think I'm smart, and sometimes I feel that my academic "successes" (I use that term very, very lightly and under the shaky assumption that high school students can even have academic successes) have simply been a combination of elbow grease and luck.

Huffington Post

Even with the shaky assumption that the R01 will hold its ground at 69% of RPGs (FY2009, down from ~75+% in the glory days of the NIH), this budget would drop the R01 below 37% of the overall NIH budget (down from ~43% in the FY1988 2002 period).

F1000Research

In the face of these tribulations, the revisionist ethanol narrative makes a number of shaky assumptions.

Yale University

— is contingent on a lot of shaky assumptions, several of which were parsed by Orin Kerr at Lawfare.

The Washington Post

"Objects are falling, but Not Because of Gravity" "Continents are moving, but Not Because of Plate Tectonics" This conclusion rests upon a number of shaky assumptions.

The Guardian

But, on a third viewing, Shawn's play, for all its darkly mesmerising power, depends on a number of shaky assumptions.

The Guardian

Or is it slight, a novelty or built on shaky assumptions of use patterns?

TechCrunch

A galaxy of distinguished international economists and historians pit economic history against the shaky assumptions of the classical economic theory of natural growth.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a shaky assumption", clearly articulate why the assumption is questionable. Provide evidence or reasoning to support your claim that the assumption is not well-founded.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the consequences of relying on "a shaky assumption". While it's important to acknowledge the risk, presenting it as a guaranteed failure can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a shaky assumption" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "assumption". It describes the quality of the assumption, indicating its instability or lack of solid foundation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a shaky assumption" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes a belief or idea lacking a solid foundation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While generally appropriate for diverse contexts like news, academia, and science, its neutral register makes it accessible for broader use. When employing this phrase, be sure to clearly articulate the reasons for the assumption's weakness and avoid overstating the potential consequences. Related phrases such as "a dubious premise" or "a questionable supposition" can provide alternative ways to express the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a dubious premise

Replaces "assumption" with "premise", emphasizing the questionable nature of the starting point.

a questionable supposition

Uses "supposition" instead of "assumption", highlighting the uncertainty of the belief.

a flimsy basis

Shifts from the act of assuming to the weakness of the foundation upon which something is built.

a tenuous hypothesis

Employs "hypothesis" to suggest a provisional explanation with limited support.

an unreliable presupposition

Substitutes "assumption" with "presupposition", stressing the lack of dependability.

a fragile foundation

Focuses on the vulnerability and instability of the underlying basis.

a weak conjecture

Replaces "assumption" with "conjecture", indicating a guess based on incomplete information.

a precarious inference

Uses "inference" to highlight the uncertain conclusion drawn from evidence.

a suspect premise

Emphasizes doubt surrounding the validity of the foundational idea.

an unfounded belief

Focuses on the lack of evidence or justification for the belief being held.

FAQs

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

You can use "a shaky assumption" to describe a belief or idea that is uncertain or not well-supported. For example: "The project's success relies on "a shaky assumption" that the market will respond positively to the new product."

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

Alternatives include "a dubious premise", "a questionable supposition", or "a flimsy basis", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to describe something as "a shaky assumption"?

Yes, describing something as "a shaky assumption" generally implies a negative assessment, suggesting that the belief or idea is not reliable and could lead to problems or incorrect conclusions.

What makes an assumption "shaky"?

An assumption is considered "shaky" when it lacks sufficient evidence, relies on uncertain or unproven information, or is based on a misunderstanding of the facts. It suggests that the assumption is vulnerable to being disproven or undermined.