assumed away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assumed away" is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been assumed to be true or that doesn't need to be taken into account due to its assumed insignificance. For example, "We can ignore the minor details of the plan, they can be assumed away for now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Instead I detect a cheery Vietnam-style faith that obstacles can be assumed away.

The New York Times

The rational-expectations theorists didn't refute Keynesianism: they assumed away the reason for its existence.

The New Yorker

The inherent complexity of modern cross-border banking was simply assumed away in the interest of making for good viewing.

The New York Times

"In a world where carbon didn't seem an issue, Britain had excess supply and prices were low - it was easier for these market failures to be assumed away.

The Guardian - Money

One is the scale of public debt, referred to above, which may not be as pressing as our government claims but cannot just be assumed away.

Independent

By positing an idealised world of perfect competition, economic theory assumed away the factors that drove societies.Mr Galbraith was thus less an economist than a mixture of sociologist, political scientist and journalist.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Traditional economics tends to assume away that basic question.

The New York Times

Proponents of presidential power assume away the existence of Congress.

The Guardian - Opinion

European unity cannot be achieved by assuming away differences, but by recognising them.

The Economist

They typically present economic outcomes to the issuer only on projected savings and assume away any chance of the risks happening".

The New York Times

In the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis, macroeconomists tended to assume away the financial sector in their models of advanced economies.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "assumed away" in academic or formal writing, ensure that the assumptions are clearly stated and justified. This maintains transparency and allows readers to evaluate the validity of the simplification.

Common error

Avoid using "assumed away" to dismiss critical factors without proper justification. Always provide a rationale for simplifying assumptions to maintain the credibility of your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assumed away" functions as a verb phrase indicating that certain elements or factors have been disregarded or simplified for the purpose of analysis or modeling. Ludwig's examples showcase how it is often used in economics and scientific contexts to explain methodological simplifications.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "assumed away" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that indicates the deliberate simplification of a situation by disregarding certain factors. According to Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, media, and scientific contexts, often within discussions related to economics or modeling. While it's acceptable in formal writing, including academic and scientific contexts, transparency and justification for the assumptions are crucial. Alternatives like "disregarded", "overlooked", and "discounted" can be used depending on the specific nuance required. Always ensure that the use of "assumed away" doesn't lead to overlooking critical aspects of the analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abstracted away

Suggests removing complexities to focus on essential aspects.

disregarded

Focuses on ignoring something, often because it's deemed unimportant.

discounted

Suggests reducing the importance or relevance of something.

set aside

Highlights the act of putting something to the side, effectively removing it from current consideration.

overlooked

Highlights a failure to notice something, which can lead to it being ignored.

brushed aside

Implies dismissing something quickly and without serious consideration.

ignored

Implies a deliberate choice not to pay attention to something.

left out

Focuses on the act of omitting something from consideration.

simplified

Focuses on making something less complex by removing certain elements.

excised

Suggests cutting something out to make the concept easier to understand.

FAQs

How can I use "assumed away" in a sentence?

You can use "assumed away" to indicate that certain factors are disregarded for the sake of simplicity or clarity in an analysis. For example: "In this model, we've "disregarded" transaction costs, they are "assumed away" to focus on core dynamics."

What are some alternatives to "assumed away"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "disregarded", "overlooked", or "discounted" to express similar ideas.

Is it appropriate to use "assumed away" in formal writing?

Yes, "assumed away" is appropriate in formal writing, especially in academic or technical contexts where simplifying assumptions are common. Just ensure that you clearly state and justify these assumptions.

What does it mean when a factor is "assumed away" in a model?

When a factor is "assumed away", it means that its influence is ignored to simplify the model and focus on the key variables of interest. This is often done to make the analysis more manageable, but it's important to acknowledge the limitations of such assumptions.