ask for premises

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ask for premises" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when requesting the foundational statements or propositions that support an argument or theory. Example: "In order to understand the argument better, I need to ask for premises that support your conclusion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Anyone arguing in this manner will, in order to be successful, have to ask for premises which the interlocutor is liable to accept, and the best way to be successful at that is to have an inventory of acceptable premises, i.e., premises that are in fact acceptable to people of different types.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Consumer Focus Wales said parents should check the hygiene rating of their local school and ask for details if the premises land a Food Hygiene Standard rating of two or below.

BBC

However, Damerla also said Wednesday that business owners would still have the final say over what's allowed on their premises, and could ask for proof of a prescription.

Vice

"He didn't ask for them and they're based on a false premise.

The New York Times - Books

Ramljak says the recently offered contract for long-term storage did not ask for a risk and safety analysis to see if the institute's premises are adequate for such storage.

Science Magazine

Do not ask for sugar, soy milk, 2% or nonfat — they are not to be found on the premises.

Los Angeles Times

How To Choose A Solution Aside from the choice of on-premises versus hosted, a company should investigate several other issues when selecting an e-mail archive vendor: –As always, ask for references to existing customers.

Forbes

Premises holding small numbers of pigs may be under-represented in the study population because these farmers may be less likely to ask for the services of a veterinarian.

BMC Veterinary Research

I can't really remember any time when people have shook their heads or thrown their hands up and said, 'What are you doing,' or 'You're wasting money.'" The project has a simple premise – they asked for pieces of wood that mean something to people with which they would then build a boat.

The Guardian

Eugene: It was improvised, but that's what the premise was; you're asking for a car, and I think it's an insane idea.

Los Angeles Times

Our broker found exactly what I had asked for, complete with a dog park on the premises.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ask for premises", ensure that your audience understands that you are requesting the foundational statements or propositions that support an argument, theory, or decision. Using more common terms like "assumptions" might improve clarity in some contexts.

Common error

Avoid confusing the plural noun 'premises' (a place or building) with the philosophical term 'premises' (foundational statements). Context should make the meaning clear, but rephrasing can prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ask for premises" functions as a request for the underlying assumptions or foundational statements upon which an argument, theory, or claim is based. According to Ludwig, it appears in contexts where a clear understanding of the basis for a conclusion is needed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ask for premises" is a grammatically sound but relatively rare expression used to request the foundational statements or assumptions behind an argument. According to Ludwig, it appears primarily in scientific and news contexts. While accurate, it may benefit from being replaced with a more common phrase like "request the assumptions" for clarity in broader audiences. The key is to ensure that the request is for the foundational statements, not just a building or location. Be mindful of the context to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

request the assumptions

Focuses on the act of formally requesting the underlying assumptions.

inquire about the basis

Emphasizes the act of seeking information about the foundation or rationale.

seek the grounds for

Highlights the search for reasons or justifications.

demand justification

Implies a stronger request for a rationale or validation.

question the foundations

Focuses on critically examining the base or starting point.

investigate the rationale

Suggests a detailed examination of the reasoning behind something.

explore the underlying logic

Emphasizes understanding the logical structure supporting a claim.

examine the presuppositions

Highlights the examination of assumptions taken for granted.

determine the basis

Focuses on establishing the fundamental reasons or principles.

ascertain the grounds

Implies a process of finding out the reasons or justifications.

FAQs

How can I use "ask for premises" in a sentence?

You can use "ask for premises" when you want someone to provide the basic assumptions or statements upon which their argument or conclusion is based. For instance, "Before I can agree with your conclusion, I need to ask for the premises supporting it."

What is a simpler way to say "ask for premises"?

Simpler alternatives to "ask for premises" include "request the assumptions", "inquire about the basis", or "seek the grounds for". These options are generally more accessible to a wider audience.

Which is correct: "ask for premises" or "ask for the premise"?

While "ask for the premise" is grammatically correct when seeking a single foundational statement, "ask for premises" is typically used when multiple supporting statements are expected. It depends on whether you expect one or multiple assumptions to be provided.

What's the difference between "ask for premises" and "challenge the premises"?

"Ask for premises" means you are requesting someone to state their underlying assumptions. "Challenge the premises", on the other hand, means you are questioning or disputing those assumptions.