assertion to the effect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assertion to the effect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a statement or claim that conveys a particular meaning or implication. Example: "The witness made an assertion to the effect that the defendant was present at the scene of the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Audit report means a document in which an independent accountant indicates the scope the audit made and sets forth an opinion regarding the financial statement taken as a whole, or an assertion to the effect that an overall opinion cannot be expressed.

Cornell University

Of all the mistakes, misstatements, and assorted bloviations issuing from Donald Trump during the current presidential campaign, surely one of the leading head-scratchers is his May 27 assertion to the effect that "there is no drought" in California.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I fairly often encounter assertions to the effect that Greece didn't carry through on its promises, that it failed to deliver the promised spending cuts.

The New York Times

You often hear assertions to the effect that in the past the economy has always rebounded strongly after a recession, so there must be something special at work here — and that something special must be the socialist in the White House.

The New York Times

Just a note: I keep seeing, both in comments here and in the broader discussion, assertions to the effect that government spending can't create demand or jobs — basically, the claim that there must always be 100 percent crowding out.

The New York Times

Assertions to the effect that Anousic-run schools are better than non-Anousic state schools, so that "middle-class parents can get a better education for their children for free" – "for free" means on your and my tax money, remember - have become a kind of mantra; apart from the shocking fact of handing children to Anousic organisations for an education (do they mean: indoctrination?

The Guardian - Opinion

And even for realists who are not convergentists as such, the importance of cashing out the metaphor of theories being close to the truth is pressing in the face of antirealist assertions to the effect that the metaphor is empty.

SEP

Assertions to the effect that T is well-behaved have strong consistency strength (Orey [1955], [1956]) and play in NF studies the kind of rôle that large cardinal axioms play in ZF-like systems.

SEP

Granted, the singers are meant to personify Compassion, Freedom, Liberation and Ginsberg himself, but if not for an assertion to that effect in the program a listener would not have known it.

The New York Times - Arts

Farah linked to an August 2 WND article by Jerome Corsi contained no supporting evidence for the claim that Hawaii officials "refused to authenticate" the certificate -- only Corsi's assertion to that effect.

Huffington Post

And you do in fact see assertions to that effect all the time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "assertion to the effect" when you want to indicate that you are summarizing or paraphrasing a statement without quoting it directly. This is particularly useful when precision isn't critical, but the general idea is important.

Common error

Avoid using "assertion to the effect" in informal contexts where simpler language would suffice. Phrases like "basically saying" or "implying that" often work better in casual communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assertion to the effect" functions as a qualifier to introduce a paraphrased or summarized statement. It indicates that the following content is not a direct quote, but rather a general representation of what was stated. Ludwig AI shows that similar phrases are 'claim to that effect' or 'statement to that effect'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "assertion to the effect" is a phrase used to introduce a summary or paraphrase of a statement, rather than a direct quote. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct but relatively rare. It's most commonly encountered in news, academic, and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When writing, it's best to use this phrase when you want to convey the general idea of a statement without the need for precise wording. Consider simpler alternatives in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

claim to the effect

Replaces "assertion" with "claim", emphasizing the act of stating something as true.

statement to the effect

Substitutes "assertion" with "statement", focusing on the communication of information.

declaration to the effect

Uses "declaration" instead of "assertion", suggesting a more formal or official statement.

contention to the effect

Replaces "assertion" with "contention", highlighting a point argued or maintained.

argument to the effect

Uses "argument" instead of "assertion", emphasizing the reasoning or evidence presented.

representation to the effect

Replaces "assertion" with "representation", focusing on how something is portrayed or described.

submission to the effect

Substitutes "assertion" with "submission", implying a formal presentation of information.

averment to the effect

Uses "averment" instead of "assertion", indicating a strong declaration or affirmation.

insinuation to the effect

Replaces "assertion" with "insinuation", suggesting an indirect or subtle implication.

hint to the effect

Uses "hint" instead of "assertion", implying a subtle or indirect suggestion.

FAQs

How can I use "assertion to the effect" in a sentence?

You can use "assertion to the effect" to introduce a summary of someone's statement or claim. For example, "The report contained an "assertion to the effect" that funding was insufficient."

What are some alternatives to "assertion to the effect"?

You can use alternatives like "claim to the effect", "statement to the effect", or "declaration to the effect" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "assertion to the effect" or a direct quote?

Use "assertion to the effect" when a direct quote is unnecessary or impractical. If the exact wording is important, a direct quote is more appropriate.

What is the nuance between "assertion to the effect" and "suggestion to the effect"?

"Assertion to the effect" implies a statement presented as fact, while "suggestion to the effect" indicates a less direct or more tentative claim.