easy to guess

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'easy to guess' is correct and is commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe when a situation or piece of information is easily predictable or recognizable. For example, "This riddle was easy to guess; the answer was clearly 'apple'."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The cause is easy to guess at.

The New Yorker

It's actually kind of easy to guess.

The New Yorker

It is easy to guess where the money comes from.

The Economist

The right answers should be easy to guess by now.

The Guardian - Books

It's often reassuringly easy to guess who the murderer is.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It's easy to guess where the ride goes from here.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Other than an easy-to-guess ending, there's not much else to the tale.

The New York Times

Unless, that is, they just give up and use comically easy-to-guess passwords.

The Washington Post

Why do so many people continue to choose easy-to-guess passwords, despite so many warnings about the risks?

The New York Times - Tech

But many Web users have easy-to-guess passwords in just one-step verification, which is highly imprudent.

The New York Times - Tech

Other popular easy-to-guess passwords included "adobe123", "qwerty" and "password".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing security, emphasize using strong, unique passwords that are not "easy to guess" to protect sensitive information.

Common error

While "easy to guess" is widely applicable, be mindful of overly casual language in professional writing. Consider more formal alternatives like "readily apparent" or "easily predictable" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "easy to guess" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. According to Ludwig, it indicates that something is not difficult to predict or figure out. It is used to describe the characteristic of being predictable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Wiki

27%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "easy to guess" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe something that is readily predictable or obvious. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently encountered across various contexts, especially in news, media and wiki articles. While its register is generally neutral, being mindful of formality is important, opting for alternatives like "readily apparent" in professional settings. The phrase functions as an adjective phrase, communicating the simplicity of prediction in various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

easily predictable

A more direct synonym, simply replacing "to guess" with its adjective form.

simple to predict

Replaces "guess" with "predict", emphasizing the act of foretelling rather than casual estimation.

readily apparent

Focuses on the obviousness and visibility of something, making it almost self-evident.

plain to see

Emphasizes visual obviousness, suggesting something is easily understood at a glance.

not difficult to surmise

Replaces "easy" with "not difficult" and "guess" with "surmise", increasing formality but retaining the core meaning.

obvious conclusion

Shifts focus to the conclusion itself being obvious rather than the act of guessing.

hardly a mystery

Conveys the lack of difficulty in understanding or figuring something out.

foregone conclusion

Suggests the outcome is predetermined and therefore easily anticipated.

predictable outcome

Highlights the predictability of the result, emphasizing its lack of surprise.

a certainty

Implies the outcome is so likely it is practically guaranteed.

FAQs

How can I use "easy to guess" in a sentence?

You can use "easy to guess" to describe anything that is readily predictable or obvious. For example, "The ending of the movie was "easy to guess"."

What can I say instead of "easy to guess"?

You can use alternatives like "easily predictable", "readily apparent", or "obvious conclusion" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "easy to guess" or "easily guessed"?

"Easy to guess" is the more common and natural phrasing. "Easily guessed" is grammatically correct but less frequently used and might sound awkward in many contexts.

What makes something "easy to guess"?

Something is "easy to guess" when it follows a clear pattern, is based on common knowledge, or lacks complexity, making it predictable with minimal effort.