decent guess

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decent guess" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe a guess that is reasonable or acceptable. Example: "I'm not completely sure, but my decent guess is that the meeting will be at 3 PM tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Though you would think Shorten would be able to hazard a pretty decent guess on what Abbott would be donning.

The Guardian

He thought dicing was a decent guess, reasoning, "You can't give someone a job to do repeatedly without him finding an efficient way".

The New Yorker

Now some scientists say these same DNA scores can offer a decent guess at how smart a kid will be later in life.

MIT Technology Review

If you open your phone at lunchtime, I can make a decent guess that you want a place to go for lunch, and I can make a suggestion, which may be right or wrong," says Stoppelman. "We can do that fairly easily, and we've got some releases soon that address that specific use case.

The Guardian - Tech

Maybe unsurprising is the better word: when you hear there's going to be a new Thom Yorke album, you can take a pretty decent guess at what it will sound like, way before you've mastered whatever annoying technology is required to actually hear the damn thing.

The Guardian - Music

My friend Catriona once compared the people of the internet to the people of a city: digital natives like me live in Internet Town, know the whole place well and, while we have our preferred haunts, if you're looking for something different, we can probably tell you the best place to find it and how to get there from here (or at least make a decent guess).

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

If you have a restless mind or an allergy to amazement, you can make some decent guesses about how this trick is done, but where's the fun in that?

The New York Times

The researchers could also make decent guesses at non-dichotomous attributes.

Huffington Post

I went to my partner's younger sister's wedding (they are a white Trini family of Portuguese/English decent) and guess what, once that soca music hits, everyone's waistline gets loose.

Huffington Post

According to Mr. Letina, the town is still a little bleak, "with a couple of decent people — I guess that's just the way it is".

The New York Times

The current report is not quite as bullish as the July one, so we may not get as big a jump, but odds are it will be decent; I'd guess 5%-75%-7%

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "decent guess" when you want to indicate that an estimate is reasonable, though not necessarily precise. It implies a level of informed judgment without claiming certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "decent guess" when a precise calculation or measurement is required. This phrase is best suited for situations where an approximation is sufficient, not when accuracy is paramount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decent guess" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "decent" modifies the noun "guess". It's used to describe an estimation or prediction that is considered reasonably accurate or acceptable, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decent guess" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, indicating a reasonable or acceptable estimation. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness. While not overly formal, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media. Related phrases include "reasonable estimate" and "fair assumption", offering alternative ways to express similar levels of confidence. When using "decent guess", ensure it aligns with the context and avoid overstating confidence when a precise calculation is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Educated estimation

Highlights that the guess is based on knowledge and experience.

Good approximation

Suggests the guess is close to the actual value, though not exact.

Reasonable estimate

Replaces 'guess' with 'estimate' suggesting a slightly more calculated approximation.

Informed assessment

Highlights the role of background knowledge in making the guess.

Fair assumption

Substitutes 'guess' with 'assumption', indicating a belief taken for granted.

Credible speculation

Indicates the guess has some basis in fact and is not purely conjecture.

Plausible prediction

Replaces 'guess' with 'prediction', implying a forecast based on available information.

Acceptable hypothesis

Presents the guess as a starting point for further investigation.

Sound judgment

Indicates the guess is the result of careful and informed evaluation.

Likely conjecture

Emphasizes the element of uncertainty, while still suggesting a reasonable probability.

FAQs

How can I use "decent guess" in a sentence?

You can use "decent guess" to express a reasonable estimation, like: "Based on the data, a "decent guess" would be that sales will increase by 10% next quarter."

What's a more formal alternative to "decent guess"?

For a more formal context, consider using "reasonable estimate" or "informed assessment" instead of a "decent guess".

Is "decent guess" appropriate for academic writing?

While "decent guess" is understandable, it might be too informal for academic writing. Opt for terms like "plausible hypothesis" or "educated estimation" to maintain a more scholarly tone.

How does "decent guess" differ from "best guess"?

"Decent guess" implies a reasonable but not necessarily optimal estimation, whereas "best guess" suggests the most likely or accurate estimation possible with the available information.