by hypothesis

USAGE SUMMARY

"by hypothesis" is a correct phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate a working hypothesis or assumption, i.e. something proposed as a possible explanation without having been proven yet. For example: "By hypothesis, the high levels of caffeine in the energy drink could be the cause of the user's adverse health effects."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Holiday has been replaced by hypothesis in song.

The New Yorker

But by hypothesis their psychological states are the same.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But by hypothesis, he does not have that understanding.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The patentee is expending funds on litigation to protect a patent which is by hypothesis invalid.

Cornell University

For it is either destructible or indestructible, but, if indestructible, it is by hypothesis ungenerated.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

First, scientific progress is driven more by new tools and new observations than by hypothesis construction and testing.

The Washington Post

By hypothesis, the situation involves one jurisdiction with presumably adequate exchange of information among its various law enforcement officers.

Cornell University

Duality of patterning, is, by hypothesis, a universal design feature of language.

Cognition

As predicted by Hypothesis 1, participants with high initial subjective stress showed poor initial blastogenesis.

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

by hypothesis.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

By hypothesis, they must all be equals.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by hypothesis" when you want to clearly indicate that a statement is being presented as an assumption, especially in academic and scientific writing. Ensure the hypothesis is relevant to the argument or analysis that follows.

Common error

Avoid using "by hypothesis" when you are referring to established scientific theories. A hypothesis is a proposed explanation, while a theory is a well-substantiated explanation acquired through the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation. Using "by theory" is not a substitute.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by hypothesis" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a statement by indicating that it is based on an assumption or a premise. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

74%

Academia

18%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

News & Media

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by hypothesis" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to introduce statements based on assumptions. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use, especially in formal academic and scientific contexts. While synonyms like "by assumption" or "assuming that" exist, understanding the nuances of each alternative is crucial for effective communication. As a final recommendation, ensure that the assumption introduced by "by hypothesis" is relevant to the subsequent discussion or analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by assumption

This is the most direct synonym, replacing 'hypothesis' with 'assumption'.

by supposition

Similar to assumption, but suggests a more tentative or speculative starting point.

assuming that

Introduces the hypothetical condition more explicitly as a given premise.

under the hypothesis

More formal and emphasizes the explicit framework of a hypothesis.

on the assumption that

Similar to 'assuming that', it highlights the role of the assumption as a foundation.

for the sake of argument

Indicates the hypothetical nature of the statement is primarily for discussion.

let us assume

Directly proposes a premise for the following argument or deduction.

given that

Sets a condition as already known or accepted for the sake of the argument.

for the purpose of this discussion

Explicitly frames the statement as a temporary or limited premise.

hypothetically speaking

This phrase explicitly flags the statement as theoretical or speculative.

FAQs

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

You can use "by hypothesis" to introduce an assumption or a proposed explanation. For example, "By hypothesis, increasing the temperature will increase the reaction rate."

What's a good alternative to "by hypothesis"?

Alternatives to "by hypothesis" include "by assumption", "assuming that", or "under the hypothesis" depending on the context.

In what contexts is "by hypothesis" most appropriate?

"By hypothesis" is most appropriate in formal writing, particularly in scientific and academic contexts, where clearly stating assumptions is crucial.

Is "by hypothesis" interchangeable with "in theory"?

While both phrases deal with ideas, "by hypothesis" introduces a specific assumption for the sake of an argument or experiment, while "in theory" describes how something should ideally work, which may differ from reality.