assuming we could

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assuming we could" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when introducing a hypothetical situation or condition that may not be possible but is being considered for the sake of discussion. Example: "Assuming we could travel back in time, what changes would we make to history?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

As one government official put it, after foiling a terrorist plot to plant a bomb in Los Angeles at the turn of the millennium, "We said, 'Good for us, we did it!' assuming we could foil more in the future".

The New York Times

The current vice president and then the secretary of defense, Dick Cheney, outlined some of them in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1992, when he said: "If we'd gone to Baghdad and got rid of Saddam Hussein -- assuming we could have found him -- we'd have had to put a lot of forces in and run him to ground someplace.

The New York Times

The Maginot Line gave France a false sense of security (since it seems strong and big ); Is big data giving us a false sense of security, by assuming we could answer science challenges by looking at big data ?

BioData Mining

Assuming we could tune the Earth to a desirable temperature, who would say what that temperature would be?

The New York Times - Science

Assuming we could know what that state would be.

SEP

Assuming we could get through the initial shock and manage to reboot everything, all we would have lost was an awful lot of data.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

We assumed we could manage.

The New York Times

We have assumed we could adapt.

The Guardian

"We just assumed we could have whatever we wanted.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was easy to assume we could be.

The New York Times

"We always assumed we could find the labor we would need," said Mr. Bittner, who has managed Singer Farms since 1991.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "assuming we could" to introduce hypothetical situations, especially when exploring potential future scenarios or counterfactual arguments. This sets a clear condition for the subsequent statement.

Common error

Avoid using "assuming we could" when a higher degree of certainty is required. If the ability is already established, opt for more direct language like "since we can" or "given that we are able to."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assuming we could" functions as a conditional clause introducer. It sets up a hypothetical scenario or condition that the following statement depends on. According to Ludwig, this phrase is suitable for introducing assumptions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "assuming we could" is a correct and usable conditional phrase for introducing hypothetical scenarios. Ludwig AI confirms its suitability for setting assumptions. Although "assuming we could" may not be as common as other conditional phrases, it is effectively used in various contexts, including news media and scientific discussions, to explore potential outcomes contingent upon a hypothetical ability or possibility. Alternative phrases like "if we were able to" and "supposing we could" offer similar meanings and can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supposing we could

Changes "assuming" to "supposing", offering a similar conditional meaning with a slight shift in tone.

if we were able to

Replaces "assuming we could" with a more direct conditional statement.

given that we could

Specifies that something is granted or presupposed.

provided that we could

Emphasizes a condition that must be met.

on the assumption that we could

Adds formality by explicitly stating the assumption.

presuming we had the ability to

Uses "presuming" instead of "assuming" and expands on the ability.

in the event that we could

Offers a more formal alternative expressing a possible future circumstance.

let's say we were capable of

Introduces a hypothetical scenario in a more conversational way.

considering we were able to

Shifts the focus to considering a hypothetical ability.

imagine if we could

Emphasizes the hypothetical nature of the scenario.

FAQs

How to use "assuming we could" in a sentence?

Use "assuming we could" to introduce a hypothetical or conditional scenario. For example: "Assuming we could travel to Mars, what challenges would we face?"

What can I say instead of "assuming we could"?

You can use alternatives like "if we were able to", "supposing we could", or "provided that we could" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "assuming we could" or "if we could"?

Both "assuming we could" and "if we could" are grammatically correct. "Assuming we could" is used to introduce an assumption, while "if we could" states a condition.

What's the difference between "assuming we could" and "considering we could"?

"Assuming we could" introduces a hypothesis or supposition. "Considering we could" implies taking something into account as a possibility or factor. They both express conditional scenarios, but "considering" suggests more weight or relevance to the scenario being discussed.