collective assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collective assumption" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a shared idea or assumption that a group of people hold. For example: "The collective assumption of the classroom was that the assignment would be difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Until very recently, our collective assumption was that oil was running out.

The New York Times

Pilots have a big job to do, and they often overexplain characters and situations; let's hope that these new "Twilight Zone -like series will cast off their collective assumption that the TV audience suffers from intelligence-deficit disorder — I don't think I have ever seen so many captions telling us where we are, and when.

The New Yorker

We'd replace a collective assumption of value with... the collective assumption of value.

Vice

Historical experience, which formulates perceptions, serves among other things to enhance the sense of identity of "who we really are," a formative collective assumption that sits at the bedrock of both key players and drives functional and dysfunctional behavior.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

We have intense conversations in my house about apportioning responsibility, because neither my husband nor I wants to assume roles based on messed-up collective assumptions about gender dynamics.

The New Yorker

The descriptions of events in Oregon appear to reflect the usual shape of our collective assumptions about the relationship between race and guilt — or religion and violent extremism — in the United States.

Independent

In spite of all collective assumptions and wishes to the contrary, youthfulness has nothing whatsoever to do with looking younger than one's actual age.

Huffington Post

The state was bankrupt, the economy was collapsing, the political class was discredited, the governing institutions were in chaos and the people were demoralised by the evaporation of the collective assumptions that had underpinned their society for 40 years.

Wikipedia

Given the history of our nation, the pervasive ways that we are taught to associate whiteness with innocence and blackness with criminality, we need to shift our collective assumptions about racial bias in the entire judicial system, including legal education.

Huffington Post

What's so lame about this is that it reaffirms the most dangerous of collective assumptions in the political process: that democracy is not a live, fluxing collective of thoughts to be interacted with freely by everyone, but an intimidating concept which is rationed to a bemused public by qualified commentators.

Vice

But Zionism has always focused on the collective, its assumption being that national redemption would also promote personal redemption.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "collective assumption" when you want to emphasize that an assumption is widely held within a group, community, or society.

Common error

Be careful not to attribute a "collective assumption" to an entire group without sufficient evidence. Ensure that the assumption is genuinely widespread and not just a stereotype.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collective assumption" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'collective' modifies the noun 'assumption'. It is used to describe an idea or belief that is commonly held by a group of people. Ludwig AI confirms this is a valid and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "collective assumption" accurately describes a belief commonly shared within a group. As validated by Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and appears across varied sources, including news outlets, scientific journals, and encyclopedias. Though moderately frequent, it carries considerable weight when dissecting group dynamics and societal norms. When employing this phrase, remember to verify that the purported assumption genuinely reflects a widespread consensus to avoid generalizations. Alternatives include "shared understanding" and "common belief".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shared assumption

Emphasizes the shared nature of the assumption. It's a more direct synonym.

shared understanding

Highlights the common comprehension within a group.

common belief

Focuses on the belief aspect rather than the assumption.

prevailing view

Highlights the widespread acceptance of the idea.

general consensus

Indicates a broader agreement than a simple assumption.

public perception

Focuses on how something is understood by the public.

accepted wisdom

Implies that the assumption is well-established and considered true.

groupthink

Suggests a potentially negative aspect of collective thinking, where critical analysis is suppressed.

conventional wisdom

Highlights the traditional or widely-held understanding of a concept, which may or may not be accurate.

societal norm

Focuses on behavior or thought that is considered normal within a society.

FAQs

What does "collective assumption" mean?

A "collective assumption" refers to a belief or idea that is commonly held and accepted by a group of people, often without explicit discussion or validation.

How can I use "collective assumption" in a sentence?

You might say, "The project failed due to the team's "collective assumption" that the market would remain stable."

What's a good alternative to "collective assumption"?

Alternatives include "shared understanding", "common belief", or "prevailing view", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always accurate to assume a "collective assumption"?

No, it's crucial to critically examine "collective assumptions" as they can sometimes be based on incomplete information or biases. Challenging these assumptions can lead to new insights and perspectives.