by deduction

USAGE SUMMARY

"by deduction" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a process of reasoning or coming to a conclusion through logical analysis or elimination. Example: "By deduction, we can conclude that the suspect was in the area at the time of the crime, as all other individuals have been accounted for."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Only those approaching their 60s can know, except by deduction, how things felt.

The Guardian

By leak or by deduction, the media ran with all sorts of damning interpretations.

The New York Times - Sports

Still, there are situations where certain middle-income earners do get hit by deduction limits.

The New York Times

High earners would be hit most by deduction limits, something that might make Republicans recoil.

The New York Times

I called her in California, and we established by deduction that the year of the photograph was 1942.

The New York Times

One could follow Bowles-Simpson as a model and take deduction by deduction and make differences that way.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

The leave would eventually be extended to 12 weeks, and would be funded by deductions from employees' pay.

The New York Times

Small-business owners who set up Keogh plans must cover their employees as well as themselves, and the additional expense has been subsidized by deductions for the contributions.

The New York Times

Buyers are lured by deductions of up to $100,000 of the cost if they are bold enough to claim full-time business use of an S.U.V.; a 50percentt business claim can net a $50,000 write-off.

The New York Times

An accountant who looked at the results for The Independent said that the company's corporation tax was in effect cancelled out by deductions they got for the cost of exercising share schemes with employees.

Independent

The income earned from these investments was either tax-free or was cancelled out by deductions and exemptions.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by deduction" to clearly indicate that a conclusion was reached through a logical process, rather than observation or experimentation.

Common error

Avoid using "by deduction" when describing a conclusion reached through observation and generalization (induction). Deduction starts with general principles, while induction starts with specific observations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by deduction" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause, indicating the means or method by which something is determined or concluded. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status. The examples illustrate its role in specifying how knowledge or understanding is attained.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

23%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by deduction" serves as a crucial tool in academic, scientific and news writing for expressing logical inference. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable. While frequently encountered, it's important to use it correctly to indicate when a conclusion is reached through reasoning from known facts, rather than from observation or experimentation, avoiding confusion with induction. Alternatives such as "through deduction" or "via deduction" can add variety to your writing while maintaining clarity. Ensure your source material aligns with this meaning to preserve the integrity and precision of your argument.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

through deduction

Replaces 'by' with 'through', maintaining the core meaning of using deduction as a method.

via deduction

Substitutes 'by' with 'via', emphasizing the process or route of deduction.

by logical inference

Replaces "deduction" with a more explicit term, "logical inference", clarifying the method of reasoning.

through logical reasoning

Similar to 'by logical inference', but uses 'reasoning' instead of 'inference'.

by reasoning

Shortens the phrase while retaining the core idea of reaching a conclusion through a thought process.

deductively

Uses the adverbial form of 'deductive', offering a more concise expression.

inferentially

Replaces "deduction" with "inferentially", focusing on the act of drawing conclusions.

based on deduction

Highlights that the conclusion is founded or reliant on the process of deduction.

drawing a conclusion

Focuses on the outcome of the deductive process rather than the process itself.

using deductive reasoning

Emphasizes the active employment of deductive methods in reaching a conclusion.

FAQs

How can I use "by deduction" in a sentence?

Use "by deduction" to show that a conclusion was reached through logical reasoning from known facts. For example, "By deduction, we can determine the culprit's motive based on the evidence."

What are some alternatives to saying "by deduction"?

You can use alternatives such as "through deduction", "via deduction", or "by logical inference" to express a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "by deduction" or "deductively"?

The choice depends on the sentence structure. "By deduction" is a prepositional phrase, while "deductively" is an adverb. Use "by deduction" when you need a phrase, and "deductively" when an adverb fits better. For example, "We arrived at the answer by deduction" versus "We reasoned deductively."

What's the difference between "by deduction" and "by induction"?

"By deduction" refers to reaching a conclusion from general principles to specific cases, while "by induction" means arriving at a general conclusion from specific observations. They represent opposite approaches to reasoning.