assume to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'assume to be' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used when making a supposition or hypothesis about what something is, or when speculating on a possible outcome. For example: "Based on her reactions, we can assume that she is unhappy with the outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"None of those things I assume to be true at the moment".

The New York Times

Gormley has made a cast iron sculpture of a person we assume to be homeless.

The Guardian - Arts

And what of the country's growth prospects, which analysts conventionally assume to be dismal?

The New York Times

You choose the house salad, which you assume to be better and cheaper than all the special salads.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Quite simply," she said, "we need to take a hard look at what we assume to be true".

The New York Times

We tend to make rights of things we assume to be in short supply, things perpetually under threat.

The Guardian - Books

Drapes, light fixtures and other accouterments are among the things a buyer might assume to be part of the deal.

The New York Times

This distant submarine world, which most people (I imagine) assume to be untouched, is littered with trash.

The Guardian

Kemp points out that ancient Egypt lacked some factors that moderns assume to be fundamental to early civilization.

The New Yorker

ObsID 1838 has only one aspect solution file, which we assume to be in the current working directory.

Harvard University

Presuppositions convey information that comprehenders assume to be true, even when it is tangential to the communicator's main message.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "assume to be" when you have a reasonable basis for your belief but lack definitive proof. Be clear about the level of certainty implied by your assumption.

Common error

Avoid using "assume to be" when you have concrete evidence. If you know something to be true, state it directly rather than framing it as an assumption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assume to be" functions as a verb phrase indicating supposition or presumption. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's used to express that something is believed to be true, often without concrete proof, as shown in examples like 'Gormley has made a cast iron sculpture of a person we assume to be homeless'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

23%

Academia

10%

Less common in

HuffPost

5%

Boundary Value Problems

1%

Vice

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "assume to be" is a versatile verb phrase used to express a belief or supposition, often without definitive proof. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts. It appears frequently in News & Media, Science, and Academic writing, indicating its broad applicability. While alternatives like "believe to be" or "presume to be" exist, "assume to be" provides a balanced and neutral way to convey a non-definitive stance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

believe to be

This alternative expresses a stronger degree of conviction than "assume to be".

suppose to be

Suggests that something is generally believed, even if uncertain.

presume to be

This alternative is slightly more formal and suggests taking something as true until proven otherwise.

understand to be

This alternative indicates a comprehension or interpretation of something.

consider to be

This alternative implies a more thoughtful evaluation leading to a conclusion.

take for granted to be

This alternative suggests accepting something as true without questioning it.

imagine to be

This indicates forming a mental image, often based on incomplete information.

deem to be

This alternative is a formal way of expressing a judgment or opinion.

surmise to be

Implies forming a belief based on limited evidence or intuition.

expect to be

This alternative focuses on anticipation or prediction rather than a present assumption.

FAQs

How can I use "assume to be" in a sentence?

Use "assume to be" when you are making a supposition or hypothesis about something. For example, "We "assume to be" true what we're told, but should we?"

What are some alternatives to "assume to be"?

You can use alternatives like "believe to be", "presume to be", or "consider to be" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "assume to be" versus "know to be"?

"Assume to be" is used when you have a reasonable basis for a belief but lack concrete evidence. "Know to be" is used when you possess definitive proof or certainty about something.

Is "assume to be" formal or informal?

"Assume to be" is suitable for various contexts, ranging from neutral to somewhat formal. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing. For a more informal alternative, consider "suppose to be".