arbitrary assumptions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "arbitrary assumptions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing conclusions or beliefs that are based on random or subjective criteria rather than objective evidence. Example: "The study's findings were criticized for relying on arbitrary assumptions that lacked empirical support."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

There is no need for arbitrary assumptions.

The Economist

For one thing, it relies on some 18 arbitrary assumptions being true.

The Economist

Then, under arbitrary assumptions regarding growth rates, inflation, privatisation receipts, and so forth, they compute what primary surpluses are necessary in every year, working backward to the present.

The Guardian - Business

Customs officials would either have to assess the emissions embedded in imports, an impossibly complicated task, or make arbitrary assumptions, a recipe for a trade war.

The Economist

Schrödinger expressed Broglie's hypothesis concerning the wave behaviour of matter in a mathematical form that is adaptable to a variety of physical problems without additional arbitrary assumptions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There is no way to quantify that underestimate since it depends on arbitrary assumptions about the shape of demand.A new trend today raises yet another challenge.

The Economist

"It is based on my arbitrary assumption (all novels are based on arbitrary assumptions) that the two most profound realities the American has to deal with are color and sex," he wrote.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

The new figures have some thought-provoking information, he said, including a change in an "arbitrary assumption that immigration from poorer to richer areas of the world was going to decrease progressively".

The New York Times

It's an arbitrary assumption, but it does show the relative success of schools in their missions.

Forbes

However, there is an arbitrary assumption which may be violated in real data set in the model.

Protein & Cell

Uniform distribution of flow in tube bundle of shell and tube heat exchangers is an arbitrary assumption in conventional heat exchanger design.

International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing a model or theory, explicitly state why its "arbitrary assumptions" are problematic and how they affect the outcome. Avoid vague accusations.

Common error

Avoid justifying "arbitrary assumptions" by claiming they "feel right" or "make sense intuitively". Intuition is not a substitute for empirical evidence or logical reasoning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arbitrary assumptions" functions as a noun phrase, where "arbitrary" modifies the noun "assumptions". This denotes assumptions lacking a clear or justifiable basis. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's used to express a subjective element without clear reason.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "arbitrary assumptions" signifies assumptions lacking clear justification or support, often leading to questionable conclusions. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English, highlighting its common application in critical analyses across science, news, and business contexts. Recognizing and addressing "arbitrary assumptions" is crucial for rigorous reasoning, urging for reliance on evidence-based justifications and logical consistency. When employing the phrase, ensure you clearly articulate the specific issues arising from these assumptions to avoid vagueness. When you spot them, consider to replace with "unfounded premises" or "subjective presumptions".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfounded premises

Replaces "assumptions" with "premises" and "arbitrary" with "unfounded", emphasizing the lack of a solid base.

subjective presumptions

Substitutes "arbitrary" with "subjective" and "assumptions" with "presumptions", highlighting the personal nature of the beliefs.

baseless suppositions

Replaces "assumptions" with "suppositions" and "arbitrary" with "baseless", stressing the absence of factual support.

unjustified inferences

Substitutes "assumptions" with "inferences" and "arbitrary" with "unjustified", focusing on the lack of valid reasoning.

random speculations

Replaces "assumptions" with "speculations" and "arbitrary" with "random", emphasizing the haphazard nature of the beliefs.

unwarranted hypotheses

Replaces "assumptions" with "hypotheses" and "arbitrary" with "unwarranted", pointing out the lack of justification for the proposed ideas.

groundless notions

Replaces "assumptions" with "notions" and "arbitrary" with "groundless", highlighting the lack of any factual or logical basis.

tenuous postulates

Replaces "assumptions" with "postulates" and "arbitrary" with "tenuous", indicating the weakness or fragility of the foundational beliefs.

speculative assertions

Replaces "assumptions" with "assertions" and "arbitrary" with "speculative", focusing on the conjectural nature of the claims.

indefensible premises

Substitutes "arbitrary" with "indefensible", emphasizing that the starting points cannot be justified or supported.

FAQs

How can I avoid making "arbitrary assumptions" in my research?

Base your assumptions on established evidence, peer-reviewed literature, and rigorous logical deduction. Clearly state and justify any assumptions you do make.

What are some alternatives to calling something an "arbitrary assumption"?

Depending on the context, consider using "unfounded premise", "subjective presumption", or "baseless supposition".

Why is it important to identify "arbitrary assumptions" in a model?

Identifying "arbitrary assumptions" helps assess the model's validity and limitations, highlighting areas where further research or data are needed.

What's the difference between a necessary assumption and an "arbitrary assumption"?

A necessary assumption is essential for a conclusion to hold and is often testable. An "arbitrary assumption" is made without sufficient justification and may be based on personal preference rather than evidence.