flawed assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

"flawed assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to indicate that an assumption is incorrect or misguided. For example: "The team made the flawed assumption that their project would be completed by the end of the month, but it ended up taking much longer than anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Those creative industries are quoting losses of hundreds of millions of pounds, based on the deeply flawed assumption that every download is a lost sale, and that is assuming they're able to know how many illegal downloads are really happening.

The Guardian - Opinion

The APA got into this mess by holding tightly to a deeply flawed assumption: that psychology should embrace every opportunity to expand its sphere of influence.

Los Angeles Times

It would be to sustain the flawed assumption that the arts are an optional extra.

The Guardian

As George Monbiot has pointed out, this is a flawed assumption.

The Guardian

This flawed assumption made its way into the prime minister's speech.

The Guardian - Opinion

How many times have child protection professionals in the police and elsewhere made the flawed assumption that a child will not co-operate?

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

"At that time there were flawed assumptions based on the cost of [the French reactor at] Flamanville," he said.

The Guardian

However, accuracies of the existing models are not satisfactory because they make flawed assumptions.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

And now there's the video, embedded above, which in my opinion focuses far too strongly on Zuckerberg as a person and boasts some obviously flawed assumptions about his past and present thinking.

TechCrunch

The EIA review highlights flawed assumptions in some of the recent economic studies, noting a poor understanding of tiger biology and clandestine smuggling networks, as well as oversimplified supply and demand models.

Huffington Post

This view is based on flawed, dated assumptions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Before accepting a conclusion, examine the underlying assumptions for potential flaws.

Common error

Avoid using "flawed assumption" to dismiss an idea entirely; instead, acknowledge any valid points that may exist alongside the flaw.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flawed assumption" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "flawed" modifies the noun "assumption". It describes the quality of the assumption. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flawed assumption" is a frequently used and grammatically correct phrase for identifying an incorrect or unsound premise. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various written contexts. It's commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. When using this phrase, explicitly state the assumption and acknowledge any valid points. Alternatives include "incorrect premise" or "false supposition". By understanding and avoiding "flawed assumption", arguments can be strengthened and conclusions made more valid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incorrect premise

Focuses on the underlying statement as being wrong.

false supposition

Highlights the untruthfulness of the belief.

invalid belief

Emphasizes the lack of logical validity in the belief.

unfounded expectation

Underscores the lack of a solid basis for the expectation.

erroneous conclusion

Indicates that the conclusion reached is based on faulty reasoning.

inaccurate hypothesis

Specifically addresses a scientific or testable statement that is not correct.

questionable assumption

Suggests the assumption is open to doubt or debate.

dubious premise

Highlights the doubtful or uncertain nature of the starting point.

misguided notion

Suggests the idea is based on poor guidance or understanding.

untenable proposition

Focuses on the idea as indefensible or unsustainable.

FAQs

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

You can use "flawed assumption" to point out a mistake in reasoning, for example: "The argument rests on the "flawed assumption" that all participants have the same level of experience."

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

Alternatives to "flawed assumption" include "incorrect premise", "false supposition", or "invalid belief" depending on the specific context.

What makes an assumption "flawed"?

An assumption is "flawed" when it's based on incorrect information, illogical reasoning, or doesn't hold true under scrutiny. It undermines the validity of any conclusions drawn from it.

Is it better to say "flawed assumption" or "wrong assumption"?

Both "flawed assumption" and "wrong assumption" are acceptable, but "flawed assumption" often implies a more subtle or nuanced error in thinking, while "wrong assumption" can be a more direct statement of inaccuracy.