assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of taking something for granted without proof or when you are inferring something. Example sentence: I made the assumption that he had already left for work, so I took the bus to school.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While widely shared, this was an assumption that made absolutely no sense in the case of subprime C.D.O.s.

The Economist

This is estate-agent speak for "visible signs of poverty nearby" – and it is accompanied by the tacit assumption that in a few years' time the area will be completely gentrified.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Liam Whelan, a Manchester United forward who died at Munich, who have endorsed that assumption.

The Guardian - Sport

But the assumption must be that the memo, which was an official note by a Scotland Office civil servant, would have been written for the purpose of sending to ministers – during the period before the election campaign started on 30 March when Mr Carmichael was an MP.

The Guardian

Blueprints for making the EU more democratic have often focused on giving even more powers to MEPs – on the naïve assumption that the parliament would always automatically be pro-European.

The Guardian - Opinion

In retrospect, when I collected the hard drive, I should have checked to make sure all of my photographs were on there but instead I saw a folder marked "Amy's pics" and made an incorrect assumption.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For Australia, the lowest-ranked team in the World Cup, the natural assumption is that it will be an exercise in damage limitation.

The Guardian - Sport

Despite occasionally acknowledging that some academics might be women, his comments betrayed his assumption that academics are male, for apparently their default uniform comprises trousers, a jacket, a shirt and a tie.

The Guardian

For at least two months, the unchallenged assumption had been that the government would abstain at both Lloyds and RBS if the banks asked for authority to award 200% bonuses.

The Guardian - Business

"The circumstance that torn-up current medical certificates – also pertaining to the day of the act – were found, supports, after preliminary examination, the assumption that the deceased hid his illness from his employer and his professional circles".

The Guardian

WHO's regular updates show that deaths have resulted from 4,447 of the 8,914 reported cases, but Aylward said that any assumption that the death rate was 50% would be wrong.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "assumption", clarify the basis for your reasoning to avoid misunderstandings. State any evidence or observations that led to your assumption.

Common error

Avoid presenting an "assumption" as fact without providing any supporting evidence or context. Always acknowledge that it is an assumption, not a proven certainty.

Linguistic Context

The word "assumption" functions primarily as a noun, representing a belief or idea accepted as true without proof. Ludwig showcases its usage in various contexts, confirming its role in expressing suppositions and presumptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "assumption" is a commonly used noun referring to a belief or idea taken as true without proof. As evidenced by the numerous examples provided by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, business, and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and versatile in its usage. When using "assumption", it's important to consider the context and provide supporting evidence to avoid misinterpretations. Alternatives like "supposition" or "presumption" can be used to nuance the meaning based on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supposition

A more formal synonym for "assumption", suggesting something is taken as true without proof.

presumption

Similar to "assumption" but often implies a lack of justification or a bold inference.

hypothesis

A tentative explanation used as a basis for further investigation or research.

belief

A state of mind in which a person thinks something to be the case, with or without proof.

conjecture

An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.

inference

A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning.

speculation

The forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.

postulate

A statement that is accepted as true for the sake of argument or reasoning.

premise

A previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion.

working hypothesis

A provisional "assumption" used as a basis for action or investigation.

FAQs

How to use "assumption" in a sentence?

The word "assumption" can be used to describe something that is taken for granted or supposed to be true. For example, "My "assumption" was that the train would be on time."

What can I say instead of "assumption"?

You can use alternatives like "supposition", "presumption", or "hypothesis" depending on the context. For example, using "supposition" conveys a more formal tone.

Which is correct, "assumption" or "presumption"?

Both "assumption" and "presumption" are correct, but "presumption" often implies a lack of justification or a bold inference, while "assumption" is more neutral.

What's the difference between "assumption" and "hypothesis"?

An "assumption" is something taken for granted, while a "hypothesis" is a testable explanation for a phenomenon. Hypotheses are used as a basis for further investigation.