be guessed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be guessed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something is capable of being inferred or deduced by someone. Example: "The answer to the riddle can be guessed if you think carefully about the clues provided."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Not about what can be guessed.

The New York Times

Its purpose must be guessed at.

The New York Times - Books

(Other beach humiliations, which may be guessed at, continue).

The New York Times

The answer can only be guessed from what he did do in the few months available.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Chinese exposure can only be guessed; whether China will participate in bailouts is uncertain.

The New York Times

Quite what can be expected from a Yello performance can only be guessed at.

The Guardian - Music

Names are named, but the overall range of Hughes's love life remains to be guessed at.

The Guardian - Books

But racing is a small world and these issues arise more often than might be guessed.

The Guardian - Sport

The magnitude of further possible negative feedback effects can only be guessed at".

The Guardian - Business

All right, so the content of the whole series can't be guessed from the premise.

The New York Times - Arts

The third assumption -- how many people were infected -- can only be guessed, Dr. Cousens said.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be guessed", ensure the context clearly indicates who is doing the guessing and on what basis the guess is being made.

Common error

Ensure that the sentence structure clearly indicates what is being guessed. Vague phrasing can lead to confusion about the subject of the guessing action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be guessed" functions as a passive verb construction. It indicates that the subject is the recipient of the action of guessing. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts, as shown in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

56%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be guessed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive verb construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across various contexts, from news and media to scientific literature, indicating a neutral register. The phrase conveys the possibility of something being inferred or estimated. When using "be guessed", ensure clarity in sentence structure to avoid ambiguity regarding what is being guessed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be inferred

Focuses on drawing a conclusion based on evidence, emphasizing logical deduction.

be surmised

Suggests forming an opinion or judgment about something without firm evidence, implying a degree of uncertainty.

be speculated

Highlights the act of forming theories or conjectures about something, often in the absence of concrete information.

be estimated

Emphasizes a rough calculation or approximation, often used when precise figures are unavailable.

be hypothesized

Implies formulating a testable explanation for a phenomenon, commonly used in scientific contexts.

be conjectured

Indicates forming an opinion or supposition about something based on incomplete information.

be approximated

Suggests coming close to the correct value or answer, but not necessarily achieving exactness.

be presumed

Highlights assuming something to be true based on probability or likelihood, rather than direct evidence.

be envisioned

Focuses on forming a mental image or concept of something, often referring to future possibilities.

be anticipated

Implies expecting or predicting something to happen, often based on prior knowledge or experience.

FAQs

How can I use "be guessed" in a sentence?

Use "be guessed" to indicate that something can be inferred or assumed. For example, "The answer to the riddle can "be guessed" with careful thought".

What are some alternatives to "be guessed"?

You can use alternatives such as "be inferred", "be surmised", or "be speculated" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "be guessed" and "be assumed"?

"Be guessed" implies an attempt to arrive at an answer without complete information, while "be assumed" suggests accepting something as true without proof.

Is it correct to say "can "be guessed at"" instead of "be guessed"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "be guessed" is more concise. The addition of "at" in ""be guessed at"" doesn't significantly alter the meaning but adds a slightly more informal tone.