bad hypothesis

USAGE SUMMARY

"bad hypothesis" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used when discussing scientific or research-based experiments where the initial hypothesis being tested is proven to be false (i.e., "The experiment showed that the initial hypothesis was a bad hypothesis because the results did not match the expected outcome").

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But in the past few years, researchers have started poking holes in the "fat is bad" hypothesis.

The Guardian

"We are careful not to say this is the cause of aging, but based on everything we know it's not a bad hypothesis," he said.

The New York Times - Health

Over the past two decades, the NIH has dedicated its largest nutritional grants to unsuccessfully confirming the "fat is bad" hypothesis, while neglecting all competing hypotheses.

University of California, Berkeley

In Fig. 3a a typical bad hypothesis is shown, which could e.g. result from a bias towards similar motion.

Computer Vision and Image Understanding

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

These accounts might be dubbed the medical, as opposed to material, explanations for inequality's bad effects.The hypothesis is plausible.

The Economist

To test the "bad rocks" hypothesis, the team analyzed a public database of North American rock types for different periods in the Earth's history and found nothing unusual about the sediments of the late Devonian.

Stanford University

The study's findings present a significant challenge to research published last year that said as many as 80% of cancers might be attributable to factors beyond the control of individuals — the "bad luck" hypothesis.

Los Angeles Times

Trouble is, some scientists point out, the bad-breath hypothesis apparently originated with fanciful tour guides.

The New York Times - Science

According to the hygiene hypothesis, bad things can happen if this early exposure doesn't take place or if it doesn't include the right microbes.

The Washington Post

When we initialize the parameters α k and σ k randomly, we believe that the learning will be well behaved, which is the so-called "no bad local minim" hypothesis [36].

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

At the first Festival of Bad Ad Hoc Hypotheses, Emcee Ben Lillie uses a decibel meter to gauge the audience reaction to each presentation.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing experimental results, clearly state why the "bad hypothesis" was rejected and what evidence contradicted it. Be specific about the flaws in the initial reasoning.

Common error

Avoid claiming a "bad hypothesis" proves an entirely opposite conclusion. It simply means the initial idea was not supported; further investigation is needed to determine the actual explanation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad hypothesis" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "bad" modifies the noun "hypothesis". It describes a hypothesis that has been proven wrong or is otherwise considered inadequate. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bad hypothesis" effectively describes a hypothesis that has proven to be incorrect or unsupported by evidence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and generally used in scientific, academic, and journalistic contexts. While alternatives like "flawed hypothesis" or "incorrect assumption" may offer more nuanced meanings, "bad hypothesis" serves as a clear and straightforward way to label a failed theory. Remember to explain why the "bad hypothesis" was rejected when using it in your writing. Although the phrase is considered rare in frequency, its contextual usage is pivotal in academic and scientific communities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disproven hypothesis

Directly states that the hypothesis has been shown to be untrue through evidence or experimentation.

refuted hypothesis

Similar to "disproven", but implies a more forceful rejection of the hypothesis based on strong counter-evidence.

flawed hypothesis

Replaces "bad" with a more formal synonym, "flawed", suggesting an inherent defect in the hypothesis itself.

untenable hypothesis

Suggests that the hypothesis is indefensible or unsustainable given the available information or evidence.

failed hypothesis

Focuses on the outcome, indicating that the hypothesis did not hold up under scrutiny or testing.

incorrect assumption

Shifts from "hypothesis" to "assumption", emphasizing the foundational error in the initial belief.

unsupported theory

Replaces "hypothesis" with "theory", highlighting the lack of evidence to validate the initial idea.

invalid premise

Substitutes "hypothesis" with "premise", focusing on the logical fallacy underlying the initial statement.

false conjecture

Uses "conjecture" to imply the speculative nature of the hypothesis, and "false" to indicate its inaccuracy.

erroneous supposition

Employs "erroneous" to denote the mistake in the "supposition", highlighting the misunderstanding involved.

FAQs

How can I use "bad hypothesis" in a sentence?

You can use "bad hypothesis" to describe a theory that has been proven wrong by evidence. For example: "The experiment demonstrated that the initial hypothesis was a "bad hypothesis" and needed to be revised."

What are some alternatives to "bad hypothesis"?

Alternatives include "flawed hypothesis", "incorrect assumption", or "unsupported theory" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "incorrect hypothesis" or "bad hypothesis"?

Both "bad hypothesis" and "incorrect hypothesis" are acceptable, but the former is slightly more informal. "Incorrect" is more direct and precise.

What does it mean when a hypothesis is described as "untenable"?

An "untenable hypothesis" is one that cannot be defended or maintained, typically because it contradicts established facts or lacks logical support.