a working assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

"a working assumption" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a hypothesis or idea that is accepted as true until proven otherwise. For example, "The police made a working assumption that the perpetrator had fled in a vehicle, so they concentrated their search on nearby highways."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

In one sense, this is just practical proof of a working assumption.

Independent

A working assumption was that too much attention to the inner-city residents would lead to a white "backlash".

The New Yorker

"We will be working with industry around stockpiling of medicines for a working assumption of six weeks," Raab said.

The Washington Post

The search team stressed that this was only a working assumption – rather than any cause identified by accident investigators under the legal lead of the Malaysian government.

The Guardian

One piece of evidence might be that, in Wales, there is a working assumption that agencies supplying live-in carers should be treated as domiciliary care providers and registered accordingly.

The Guardian

Together, those research findings inform a working assumption for population health management — it is more likely than not that consumers are not adhering with evidence-based treatment recommendations and/or receiving treatment that is not evidenced-based, suboptimal or ineffective.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

A major working assumption is that a college degree will help you get a better job.

Huffington Post

A major working assumption is that a college degree will help your child get a better job.

HuffPost

"If we assume it's all primed and ready to go – and that would be a reasonable working assumption – there were different points he could have done it.

The Guardian

Given the geographic proximity of Australia to New Zealand, a previously used working assumption has been that the two countries have similar HPV infection patterns [ 5].

BMC Infectious Diseases

However, no information is available on whether and how interferences take place, therefore linearity is a sort of minimum working assumption, the role of which can be assessed a posteriori, based on the performance of the method in terms of reliability of predictions.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a working assumption", clearly state the context in which it applies and acknowledge its potential limitations. This adds transparency and avoids misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a working assumption" as an established fact. Always frame it as a provisional belief that guides current actions or thinking, but remains open to revision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a working assumption" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig indicates its use to present a provisional belief taken as a basis for action or reasoning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a working assumption" is a common phrase used to describe a provisional belief or hypothesis accepted as true for the purpose of ongoing work or analysis. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability across a range of contexts, especially in news, science, and formal business communications. It's crucial to present "a working assumption" as subject to revision, avoiding any overstatement of its validity. Related phrases include "a tentative hypothesis" and "a practical premise", offering alternative ways to express this concept. Remember to clearly state the context and potential limitations when using this phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tentative hypothesis

Emphasizes the provisional nature of the assumption, highlighting that it's subject to change.

a provisional theory

Focuses on the theoretical aspect of the assumption, suggesting it's a framework that needs further validation.

a practical premise

Highlights the real-world applicability of the assumption as a basis for action or reasoning.

a baseline expectation

Suggests the assumption is a standard or norm against which other possibilities are compared.

a starting point

Simplifies the assumption to its most basic function: a place to begin an investigation or plan.

a temporary belief

Highlights the potentially short-lived nature of the assumption, emphasizing its lack of certainty.

a current understanding

Focuses on the present state of knowledge, implying that the assumption might evolve as more information becomes available.

a conventional wisdom

Suggests the assumption is widely accepted, though potentially without rigorous proof.

a received idea

Emphasizes that the assumption has been adopted from an external source, rather than independently derived.

a presupposition

Implies the assumption is taken for granted, often without explicit acknowledgment.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a working assumption" in a sentence?

Incorporate "a working assumption" to introduce a premise that guides your reasoning or actions, acknowledging it's subject to change based on new information. For example, "a working assumption of the study was that participants would respond honestly".

What are some alternatives to "a working assumption"?

You can use alternatives like "a tentative hypothesis", "a practical premise", or "a baseline expectation" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "a working assumption" in formal writing?

Yes, "a working assumption" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in academic or professional contexts where outlining premises is important. Just ensure the assumption's provisional nature is clear.

What distinguishes "a working assumption" from a regular assumption?

The term "a working assumption" specifically implies that the assumption is being actively used as a basis for work, planning, or analysis, with the understanding that it may be revised or discarded as the work progresses.