formulate educated guesses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formulate educated guesses" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of making informed assumptions or predictions based on available information or evidence. Example: "In scientific research, it is essential to formulate educated guesses before conducting experiments to test hypotheses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

History and the social sciences provide us with additional data on the customs and laws by which people have dealt with the problems that have arisen in their circumstances, and general knowledge of human psychology and social interactions that enable us to learn from the experiences of others and formulate educated guesses — new hypotheses — for how we might solve our problems.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Many were educated guesses.

The New York Times

All answers would be educated guesses.

Independent

There are only educated guesses.

The Washington Post

The reconstruction involves educated guesses.

The New York Times - Science

"We've been making educated guesses.

The New York Times

However, let me make some educated guesses.

The Guardian

These are educated guesses, but they are guesses nonetheless.

The Guardian - Sport

As for the readership, we are left with educated guesses.

The New York Times

But economists are beginning to make educated guesses.

The New York Times

Various shortcuts based on educated guesses would simplify the process.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "formulate educated guesses", ensure you have a clear understanding of the available data and the reasoning behind your assumptions. Avoid using it when precise calculations are possible.

Common error

Avoid presenting "formulate educated guesses" as definitive conclusions. Clearly acknowledge the uncertainty inherent in the process.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "formulate educated guesses" is as a verb phrase, where "formulate" acts as the main verb and "educated guesses" is the direct object. It describes the action of creating or developing informed assumptions, as exemplified by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "formulate educated guesses" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the process of making informed assumptions based on available information. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's most commonly found in Science and News & Media contexts. While the phrase isn't extremely common, with Ludwig showing a relatively low frequency of usage, it's appropriate for formal writing, particularly in academic and research settings. When using this phrase, remember to acknowledge the inherent uncertainty and avoid presenting these guesses as definitive conclusions. Consider alternatives like "develop informed predictions" or "make reasoned estimations" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Develop informed predictions

Emphasizes the development process and the informed nature of the predictions.

Make reasoned estimations

Focuses on the rational basis for the estimations.

Formulate informed hypotheses

Highlights the creation of hypotheses based on information.

Propose data-driven assumptions

Stresses the data-driven nature of the assumptions.

Make calculated predictions

Suggests a more deliberate and analytical approach to prediction.

Offer qualified conjectures

Implies that the conjectures are made with certain reservations or conditions.

Present evidence-based forecasts

Focuses on forecasting based on available evidence.

Develop logical projections

Highlights logical and well-thought projections.

Construct reasoned suppositions

Emphasizes that the suppositions are built upon reasoning.

Advance well-founded postulations

Suggests a slightly more formal and academic setting.

FAQs

How can I use "formulate educated guesses" in a sentence?

You can use "formulate educated guesses" when you are making an informed assumption or prediction based on the information available to you. For example, "Scientists often need to formulate educated guesses when exploring new phenomena".

What's the difference between "formulate educated guesses" and "make a wild guess"?

"Formulate educated guesses" implies a degree of reasoning and consideration of available information, whereas "make a wild guess" suggests a completely random and uninformed guess.

What can I say instead of "formulate educated guesses"?

You can use alternatives like "develop informed predictions", "make reasoned estimations", or "formulate informed hypotheses" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "formulate educated guesses" in formal writing?

Yes, "formulate educated guesses" is appropriate in formal writing, particularly in academic or scientific contexts where hypotheses and assumptions are being discussed. However, ensure that the level of uncertainty is clearly acknowledged.