evident premise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "evident premise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a clear or obvious foundational idea or assumption in an argument or discussion. Example: "In her analysis, she began with an evident premise that all humans have a natural inclination towards social interaction."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The most obvious instance has been New Line Cinema's coming film "Snakes on a Plane," which was the subject of endless Internet interest, mostly spoofing the title and its self-evident premise.

The New York Times

Whereas the propositions that are the objects of scientia, or knowledge, compel belief by their self-evidence or their demonstrability from self-evident premises, the propositions accepted by faith do not thus compel assent but require a voluntary act of trusting acceptance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most empiricists, though admitting that the senses fail to yield the certainty requisite for knowledge, hold nonetheless that it is only through observation and experimentation that justified beliefs about the world can be gained in other words, a priori reasoning from self-evident premises cannot reveal how the world is.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There was a generally accepted metatheory, namely that of Aristotle's Posterior Analytics, according to which scientific demonstrations were syllogistic proofs, based on necessary and self-evident premises.

SEP

According to the Aristotelian conception, scientific knowledge scientia is certain knowledge of necessary truths, which can in principle be expressed in syllogistic form, the conclusion following from self-evident premises.

SEP

He builds several arguments on apparently self-evident premises, shoddy sourcing, emotional plugs and humor.

Huffington Post

This is a sweetly, if at times exhaustingly overinflated work, which is evident from the tortured premise.

The New York Times

However, eight months after his overthrow it is evident that all three premises on which the coup was predicated were false.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is evident that if the premises of the trials are incomplete, wrong, or too vague, the results of the trial will be negative.

Critical Care

It is quite evident that when the premises are wrong or too vague the unavoidable consequences will be a negative outcome.

Critical Care

Its cheesy pop-culture self-consciousness -- most evident in the moderately clever premise of assembling an all-star team of 19th-century literary monsters -- has no room for real fright, or for the pathos and longing that lurk beneath the surface dread in the best horror movies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Make sure the "evident premise" is actually evident within the context of your writing. What might seem obvious to you may not be obvious to everyone.

Common error

Avoid using "evident premise" to describe a point that is already abundantly clear within your writing. This can come across as redundant or condescending to the reader. If a premise is truly evident, it may not need explicit labeling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "evident premise" functions as a noun phrase, where "evident" modifies the noun "premise". It describes a foundational assumption or proposition in an argument or line of reasoning. Based on Ludwig, the adjective highlights the obviousness of the premise.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "evident premise" is a noun phrase used to describe a foundational assumption that is presented as obvious and clear. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness but highlights that the term itself suggests the obviousness of the premise. While grammatically sound, it is crucial to ensure that the premise truly is evident to the intended audience to avoid alienating or confusing them. Consider related phrases like "obvious assumption" or "clear presupposition" depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obvious assumption

Emphasizes the assumption's lack of need for further explanation.

clear presupposition

Highlights that the premise is taken for granted before any argument begins.

self-explanatory foundation

Focuses on the quality of the premise being easily understood.

manifest starting point

Suggests the premise is readily apparent from the outset.

unquestionable basis

Highlights that the premise is regarded as undeniably true or valid.

plain axiom

Suggests a fundamental truth or principle.

patent principle

Focuses on the characteristic of being easy to perceive

undeniable tenet

Highlights that the premise is believed with certainty

transparent rationale

Highlights the clear and easily understood reasoning behind the premise.

readily apparent ground

Highlights that the premise is easy to perceive as the basis for something

FAQs

How can I use "evident premise" in a sentence?

You can use "evident premise" to introduce a foundational idea in an argument, such as: "The argument rests on the "evident premise" that access to education is a fundamental human right."

What is the difference between "evident premise" and "obvious assumption"?

"Evident premise" suggests a more formal and reasoned starting point, while "obvious assumption" implies a more informal, taken-for-granted belief. The choice depends on the tone and context of your writing.

Are there contexts where using "evident premise" is inappropriate?

Yes, using "evident premise" is inappropriate when the premise is not actually evident to the intended audience or requires further justification. It's also less suitable for very informal or casual contexts.

What can I say instead of "evident premise" to sound less formal?

Alternatives include "basic idea", "starting point", or simply "assumption", depending on the specific context and level of formality you want to convey.