guess correctly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'guess correctly' is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used when someone is asking someone else to make a correct guess. For example, "Guess correctly, and you'll win a prize!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

How many did you guess correctly?

The New York Times

This was the critical point; South had to guess correctly.

The New York Times

He tells him he will bet anything he wants that he will not guess correctly.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When the child who was struck is allowed to look, he must guess correctly who hit him.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Time quickly runs out for the contestants but luckily Witherspoon is able to step in and guess correctly.

Independent

Not all the time, because people usually guess correctly, but once in a while, for calibration purposes.

The New Yorker

O'Reilly, for once is not wrong; he just didn't guess correctly as to which side is doing the hijacking.

The Guardian - Opinion

He conceded that he expected some voters to guess correctly without knowing very much about the issues.

The New York Times

To do: Take Mother Jones' quiz and see if you can guess correctly: Newt Gingrich or Dwight Schrute from "The Office"?

The New Yorker

(Here, you have extra chances, because you can pick up a 4-0 splif if you guess correctly who has the length).

The New York Times

Then he would have had to guess correctly in clubs: finessing the queen would have brought home the game, but finessing the ten would have led to failure.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "guess correctly" when you want to emphasize the accuracy of a guess, especially in situations where there's a clear right or wrong answer.

Common error

Avoid using "guess correctly" when a more nuanced understanding or analysis is required, rather than a simple right or wrong answer. For example, instead of saying "guess correctly the economic forecast", you might say "accurately predict the economic forecast".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "guess correctly" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the manner in which an action (guessing) is performed. It specifies that the guess should be accurate or right. As Ludwig indicates, it's a valid and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

13%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "guess correctly" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to emphasize the accuracy of a guess. According to Ludwig, it is valid and widely used in various contexts, from news and media to scientific and encyclopedic sources. While alternatives like "guess accurately" or "predict correctly" may be more suitable in specific situations, "guess correctly" serves as a clear and direct way to highlight the importance of a correct answer. Remember to use it when a right or wrong answer is expected and the focus is on achieving accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

guess accurately

Highlights the precision of the guess.

guess exactly

Focuses on pinpoint accuracy in making a guess.

guess precisely

Stresses exactness and accuracy in guessing.

guess rightly

Similar to "guess right", but slightly more formal.

guess right

A more informal way of saying "guess correctly".

guess well

Indicates a good or successful guess.

guess successfully

Highlights the success of the guessing attempt.

hunch correctly

Emphasizes intuition rather than reasoned deduction in making a correct guess.

guess justifiably

Suggests the guess is based on reasonable grounds.

imagine correctly

Suggests forming a correct mental image or idea.

FAQs

How can I use "guess correctly" in a sentence?

You can use "guess correctly" when there is a right or wrong answer and you want to emphasize the importance of guessing the right one. For example, "If you guess correctly, you win a prize".

What are some alternatives to "guess correctly"?

You can use alternatives such as "guess accurately", "estimate correctly", or "predict correctly" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "guess correctly" or "guess right"?

"Guess correctly" and "guess right" are both correct, but "guess correctly" is generally considered more formal and precise.

Is there a difference between "guess correctly" and "predict correctly"?

"Guess correctly" implies a chance-based or less informed attempt, while "predict correctly" suggests using information or analysis to make an accurate forecast.