a working postulate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a working postulate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing a hypothesis or assumption that is accepted for the sake of argument or experimentation. Example: "In our research, we will adopt a working postulate that all variables are independent to simplify our analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

However, we devised a working postulate to diagnose hypersensitivity: early onset of pain, the absence of other reasons for pain (such as loosening, impingement, infection, or high wear), and the resolution of symptoms after the removal of the cobalt-chromium components.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A working hypothesis has been developed that postulates that the development of the disease is dependent upon an inadequate gastric digestion of protein, thus permitting the development of a virtual deficiency in the face of a diet adequate for the normal man.

Hematology Landmark Papers of the Twentieth Century

This model is based on a recent work postulating the existence of Hox/ParaHox, NK, and extended-Hox clusters in the common ancestor of animals (Mendivil Ramos et al., 2012 ).

eLife

The formulation is based on the principle of virtual work postulated for the reference surface.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

The present work postulates the inter-relationships between the pertinent parameters, and proposes the lower possible miniaturization limits of IC engines.

Applied Thermal Engineering

Previous work postulates that these are due to the coupling between the distributed drill string system and the regenerative effect in the bit-rock interaction law.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

This powerful "master algorithm" is at the heart of work postulated by Pedro Domingos, author of The Master Algorithm: How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World.

TechCrunch

The work postulated that local conservatism had in fact originated within the first phase of Romanian liberalism, grouping opponents of the "extremist", "utopian", "exulted" force which became the National Liberal elite.

Wikipedia

The hypothesis underlying this work postulates that there will be differences in comfort and lordotic angulation for healthy individuals and patients with pain between the support conditions.

Chiropractic and Manual Therapies

Previous work postulated that extrasynaptic NMDA receptors generate SICs because of their slow kinetics and block by NR2B subunit-specific antagonists such as ifenprodil (Fellin et al., 2004; Araque et al., 2014).

ASN Neuro

That being said, presently there is a lack of data available to truly confirm that PRP works as postulated.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a working postulate", clearly define its scope and limitations. This helps avoid overstating its validity and provides context for interpreting results derived from it.

Common error

Avoid presenting "a working postulate" as a definitive explanation or proven fact. Emphasize that it is a starting point for exploration, not a final conclusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a working postulate" functions as a noun phrase that introduces a tentative assumption or hypothesis. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's typically used to define a basis for exploration.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a working postulate" is a noun phrase that introduces a provisional assumption used as a starting point for reasoning or investigation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. It is most commonly found in scientific and academic contexts, where it serves to establish a basis for further exploration. While "a working postulate" is not widely used, as shown by Ludwig's examples, understanding its meaning and appropriate context can enhance the precision and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tentative hypothesis

Replaces "working" with "tentative", suggesting a provisional nature.

a preliminary assumption

Substitutes "postulate" with "assumption" and "working" with "preliminary", indicating an initial supposition.

a provisional theory

Uses "theory" instead of "postulate", implying a more developed, yet still unproven, idea.

an operational hypothesis

Replaces "working" with "operational", emphasizing its practical application.

a starting hypothesis

Highlights the role as an initial point for investigation

a baseline assumption

Indicates the assumption serves as a foundation for comparison.

a trial proposition

Emphasizes the experimental nature of the idea.

a pragmatic model

Focuses on the practical utility of the model.

a functional premise

Highlights the role as an operative foundation

an initial contention

Signifies a statement or claim one argues for

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a working postulate" in scientific writing?

Introduce "a working postulate" as a basis for investigation, clearly stating its purpose and the assumptions it relies on. Frame your research or analysis around testing or refining this initial postulate.

What are some alternatives to "a working postulate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a tentative hypothesis", "a preliminary assumption", or "an operational hypothesis".

How does "a working postulate" differ from a theory?

"A working postulate" is an initial, often unproven, assumption used as a starting point. A theory, on the other hand, is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "a working postulate"?

It's appropriate to use "a working postulate" in research proposals, preliminary studies, or theoretical analyses where a concrete starting point is needed, even if the initial assumption is not fully validated.