guess

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "guess" is correct and commonly used in written English.
You can use it to express an estimate or opinion about something, for example "I guess that he'll arrive around 6 pm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Because guess what?

The New York Times

Take a guess.

The Economist

"My unscientific guess is that our crowd is 40 pct black now, still four to five times all other teams.

The Economist

"The Worli-Fort, JJ flyover and Mohammed Ali roads are, I guess, the best of the worst roads".

The Guardian

"It's very disappointing for me and my family how these things have been communicated and handled in terms of honesty and respect but I guess that's the football business".

The Guardian - Sport

But it's supply and demand, I guess – those websites wouldn't exist if people weren't reading them.

The Guardian

Unfortunately the question are inaudible, so this is like watching Jeopardy in that we have to guess what the question is from his answers.

The Guardian

"This is my first 600m, so I guess it was difficult to judge the pace".

The Guardian - Sport

They actually fell in the past year: So I guess if you're looking for a sunny note to end on let us just say the workers are still working pretty hard and well, but we're not getting any extra pay for doing so and our income feels like it has gone backwards.

The Guardian - Business

I guess that's how you'd spend a week - chilling out on the boat and then speeding off to splash around on beaches and wander around town.

The Guardian - Travel

"My guess is it is probably the last time it is going to be out there for a while," said Michelle Krowl, a civil war specialist and co-curator of the exhibition.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "guess", consider the level of certainty you want to convey. For stronger statements, use more definitive verbs like "believe" or "conclude".

Common error

While "I guess" is common, overuse can make your writing sound uncertain or hesitant. Vary your language with alternatives like "I believe", "I suspect", or "in my opinion" to add nuance and confidence.

Linguistic Context

The word "guess" functions primarily as a verb to express an estimation, supposition, or conjecture. It can also function as a noun, referring to the act of guessing or a particular estimation itself. As shown by Ludwig, the word "guess" is widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "guess" is a versatile term used as both a verb and a noun, primarily to express estimations or suppositions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media. While "guess" is common, it's important to consider the context and desired level of certainty; alternatives like "conjecture" or "speculate" may be more appropriate in formal settings. Overusing "I guess" can make your writing sound uncertain, so varying your language is crucial. In summary, "guess" is a valuable tool for expressing uncertainty, but it should be used thoughtfully and with awareness of the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conjecture

Formal alternative that emphasizes forming an opinion or supposition about something on the basis of incomplete information.

speculate

Suggests a more thoughtful or extensive consideration of possibilities before forming an opinion.

estimate

Implies an approximate calculation or judgment, often involving numerical values.

surmise

Suggests forming an idea with limited evidence, more based on intuition or feeling.

hypothesize

Presents a formal, testable proposition as a starting point for further investigation.

deduce

Infers something based on logical reasoning and evidence, implying a greater degree of certainty.

assume

Takes something for granted without proof, often as a basis for reasoning.

reckon

Informal alternative, particularly common in British English, suggesting a personal opinion or belief.

figure

Informal, often used to express an assumption or expectation.

hazard a guess

Suggests taking a risk in offering an opinion when the outcome is uncertain.

FAQs

How to use "guess" in a sentence?

You can use "guess" as a verb to express an opinion or estimation, for example, "I guess it will rain tomorrow". As a noun, it refers to a prediction or estimate, such as "Take a guess at the answer".

What can I say instead of "I guess"?

You can use alternatives like "I believe", "I suspect", or "in my opinion" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I guess" or "I am guessing"?

Both "I guess" and "I am guessing" can be correct, depending on the intended meaning. "I guess" expresses a current belief or opinion, while "I am guessing" describes an action of making a guess at the moment.

What's the difference between "guess" and "predict"?

"Guess" implies a less informed or reasoned opinion, while "predict" suggests a more thorough analysis or basis for the statement. You might "guess" the outcome of a coin flip, but "predict" the winner of an election based on polling data.