a widespread assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a widespread assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a belief or idea that is commonly held by a large number of people. Example: "There is a widespread assumption that all successful entrepreneurs have a college degree, but many have succeeded without formal education."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There is a widespread assumption among knowing New Yorkers that much of the merchandise is stolen.

The New York Times

Worse, there was a widespread assumption that Zuckerman's parents were the models for Carnovsky's.

The Guardian - Books

There is a widespread assumption that natural childbirth is the plucky underdog in cultural attitudes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Second, it challenges a widespread assumption of automaticity linking a fear-induced deterrent effect and the presence of nuclear weapons.

Stanford University

There is a widespread assumption that aid spending comes at the cost of underinvestment in domestic public services.

The Guardian

Also, as Murray's remarks suggest, there is a widespread assumption that black professors are not as good as whites.

The New York Times - Magazine

There has also been a widespread assumption that, among married couples, the promiscuous partner is likely to be the man.

The Economist

The results challenge a widespread assumption that acts of generosity and charity are largely driven by feelings of empathy and compassion, researchers said.

University of California, Berkeley

ZT: A widespread assumption is that people are just a cost to be minimized and that companies should work to minimize that cost.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

When West Ham United were relegated in 2011, there was a widespread assumption that Scott Parker was their captain, when it was actually the comparatively timid Matthew Upson.

The Guardian - Sport

There has been a widespread assumption that Betty's songs referred to her ex-husband (or to Hendrix) but she claims she was merely "exercising my creativity".

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a widespread assumption", ensure that you either support it with evidence or explicitly challenge it to avoid perpetuating unsubstantiated beliefs.

Common error

Avoid using "a widespread assumption" when the belief is only common within a specific group or context. Instead, specify the group to which the assumption applies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a widespread assumption" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It introduces a belief or idea that is commonly held by a large number of people. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a widespread assumption" is a noun phrase used to introduce a commonly held belief or idea. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is frequently found in news and media, as well as in academic and scientific contexts. While the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used, it is crucial to either provide evidence to support the assumption or to challenge it to avoid perpetuating unsubstantiated claims. Alternatives like ""a prevalent belief"" or ""a common understanding"" can be used to convey similar meanings. This phrase serves as a valuable tool for framing discussions and analyses across various disciplines.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a widely accepted notion

Substitutes "assumption" with "notion", suggesting a general idea or belief, and "widespread" with "widely accepted", emphasizing its acceptance.

a prevalent belief

Replaces "assumption" with "belief", focusing on the acceptance of an idea, and "widespread" with "prevalent", indicating common occurrence.

a conventional wisdom

Replaces "widespread assumption" with a single term that carries the same meaning.

a common presupposition

Replaces "assumption" with a slightly more formal synonym, presupposition.

a common understanding

Substitutes "assumption" with "understanding", suggesting a shared comprehension, and "widespread" with "common", which denotes general knowledge.

a popular perception

Substitutes "assumption" with "perception", which indicates sensory understanding, and "widespread" with "popular", indicating commonality.

a general consensus

Replaces "assumption" with "consensus", highlighting agreement, and "widespread" with "general", indicating broad agreement.

a shared understanding

Indicates a mutual comprehension rather than something supposed, replacing "widespread assumption".

a prevailing view

Changes "assumption" to "view", emphasizing a particular perspective, and "widespread" to "prevailing", which signifies dominance or currency.

a broadly held idea

Replaces "assumption" with "idea", focusing on a thought or concept, and "widespread" with "broadly held", indicating wide acceptance.

FAQs

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

You can use "a widespread assumption" to introduce a common belief that you are about to discuss, support, or challenge. For instance, "There is "a widespread assumption" that all politicians are corrupt."

What are some alternatives to "a widespread assumption"?

Alternatives include "a prevalent belief", "a common understanding", or "a general consensus", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "a widespread assumption" or "a popular belief"?

Both phrases are valid, but ""a widespread assumption"" implies something taken for granted, while "a popular belief" suggests something widely accepted, although potentially with less evidence.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "a widespread assumption"?

It's inappropriate if the assumption is not truly widespread or if you are presenting it as a fact rather than an assumption. Ensure you have evidence or a clear indication that it's indeed a commonly held belief.