but he guessed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but he guessed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone made an assumption or estimation about something, often in contrast to a previous statement or thought. Example: "She was unsure about the outcome of the game, but he guessed it would end in a tie."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

But he guessed perfectly by jumping to three no-trump.

The New York Times

He didn't know why he'd picked up the gun, but he guessed that it was "sadness and pent-up anger".

The New Yorker

But he guessed that, this year, most Sanders supporters would end up voting for Clinton.

The New Yorker

Levin (West) might have passed because he had a balanced hand, but he guessed well to advance with four spades, which would probably have made.

The New York Times

The state of Washington was in the process of legalising the sale of marijuana, but he guessed it would take time for pot shops to open.

The Economist

But he guessed wrong by bidding five hearts, reaching a contract that appears to have no play.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

He can't estimate the Palauans' brain size yet--the best specimen is still encased in sediment--but he guesses that it will be smaller than that of most humans but not as tiny as the chimp-sized brain of H. floresiensis.

Science Magazine

Kohn doesn't know for certain which kids were the artists, but he guesses that at least three were involved: Francis, who became a botanist; George, who became an astronomer and mathematician; and Horace, who became an engineer.

The New Yorker

Herodotus admits that no one counted the latter, but he guesses that there were about 50,000 of them.

Wikipedia

Christian Jagodzinski can't tell me exactly how much he's worth, but he guesses it's around $55 million£4141 million).

Vice

Christian Jagodzinski can't tell me exactly how much he's worth, but he guesses it's around $55 million.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but he guessed" to introduce a contrast between a known fact or situation and a person's assumption or estimation. This indicates a degree of uncertainty or speculation.

Common error

Avoid using "but he guessed" without providing sufficient context for the reader to understand the basis for the guess. Ensure clarity by preceding it with the known information or the reason for the speculation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but he guessed" functions as a conjunction phrase, connecting two contrasting ideas: a known fact or situation and a speculative assumption made by a male individual. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

8%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but he guessed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used conjunction phrase. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It serves to introduce a contrast between a known or stated situation and an assumption or estimation made by a male individual. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media contexts, with a neutral level of formality. When writing, ensure the context is clear to support the contrast and consider more formal alternatives in academic or professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however, he surmised

Replaces "guessed" with "surmised", implying a more thoughtful inference. "However" replaces "but".

yet, he speculated

Substitutes "guessed" with "speculated", suggesting a more tentative assumption. "Yet" replaces "but".

still, he presumed

Replaces "guessed" with "presumed", implying an assumption based on probability. "Still" replaces "but".

nonetheless, he estimated

Replaces "guessed" with "estimated", implying an approximate calculation. "Nonetheless" replaces "but".

even so, he figured

Substitutes "guessed" with "figured", indicating an informal assessment. "Even so" replaces "but".

nevertheless, he anticipated

Replaces "guessed" with "anticipated", suggesting an expectation about a future event. "Nevertheless" replaces "but".

though, he conjectured

Substitutes "guessed" with "conjectured", implying an opinion based on incomplete information. "Though" replaces "but".

instead, he supposed

Replaces "guessed" with "supposed", implying a belief without concrete evidence. "Instead" replaces "but".

conversely, he reckoned

Substitutes "guessed" with "reckoned", indicating an informal calculation or judgment. "Conversely" replaces "but".

on the other hand, he envisioned

Replaces "guessed" with "envisioned", suggesting a mental image of a future possibility. "On the other hand" replaces "but".

FAQs

How can I use "but he guessed" in a sentence?

Use "but he guessed" to introduce a contrasting assumption or estimation made by someone. For example, "She wasn't sure if it would rain, "but he guessed" it would be sunny."

What are some alternatives to "but he guessed"?

Alternatives include phrases like "however he surmised", "yet he speculated", or "still he presumed", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "but he guessed" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "but he guessed" might sound informal depending on the context. Consider using more formal alternatives like "however, he surmised" in academic or professional settings.

What's the difference between "but he guessed" and "but he knew"?

"But he guessed" implies an assumption or estimation, while "but he knew" suggests certainty or confirmed knowledge. The choice depends on whether the person had evidence or was merely speculating.