guess the answer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase “guess the answer” is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want someone to try to guess the correct answer for a question. For example: "What is the capital of France? Guess the answer!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Nobody could guess the answer.

The Guardian

Did you guess the answer?

The Guardian - Film

I would guess the answer is yes.

The New Yorker

But you can guess the answer.

The New York Times - Arts

So I guess the answer is yes".

The Guardian - Film

You won't guess the answer in a month of Sundays.

The Guardian - Opinion

Try to guess the answer before you read the article.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

So I guess the answers are still to be determined.

The New York Times

First, you try to guess the answers to the Row questions.

The New York Times

The use of true/false questions may be criticized as a respondent could guess the answers and still get 50% correct.

BMC Geriatrics

No points for guessing the answer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When posing a question, use "guess the answer" to encourage active participation and engagement from the audience.

Common error

Avoid using "guess the answer" when a precise calculation or factual recall is required. It's best suited for situations where an approximation or educated guess is acceptable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "guess the answer" functions as an imperative construction used to prompt someone to attempt to find a solution or provide a response to a question. Ludwig AI confirms this is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "guess the answer" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to prompt someone to attempt solving a question. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it encourages active participation, as validated by Ludwig AI. While generally appropriate, it should be used judiciously in formal or technical settings where precision is paramount. Alternatives such as "figure out the answer" or "deduce the answer" can offer more formal options when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

figure out the answer

Focuses on the process of understanding or solving to find the solution, not just guessing.

deduce the answer

Emphasizes using logic and reasoning to arrive at the correct answer.

infer the answer

Implies deriving the answer from indirect evidence or clues.

determine the answer

Highlights the act of establishing the answer with certainty.

ascertain the answer

Stresses the effort to discover the answer through investigation.

uncover the answer

Suggests revealing or finding an answer that was previously hidden.

hypothesize the answer

Involves forming a tentative explanation or guess before having complete evidence.

surmise the answer

Implies forming an opinion or conjecture about the answer without firm evidence.

conjecture the answer

Suggests making a guess or speculation about the answer based on incomplete information.

divine the answer

Indicates using intuition or insight to find the answer.

FAQs

How can I use "guess the answer" in a sentence?

You can use "guess the answer" to invite someone to attempt to find the correct solution to a question, such as in the sentence "I'll give you a hint, now "guess the answer"!"

What's a more formal way to say "guess the answer"?

For a more formal tone, you might use phrases like "determine the solution" or "infer the response" instead of "guess the answer", depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to ask someone to "guess the answer"?

While it's generally acceptable, consider your audience. In technical or high-stakes situations, requesting a precise calculation or known fact is preferable to asking someone to "guess the answer".

What if nobody can "guess the answer"?

If no one can "guess the answer", offer more hints or rephrase the question. Sometimes, the phrasing may be unclear, preventing people from making an accurate guess.