hazard a guess

USAGE SUMMARY

"hazard a guess" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an informal expression for making a guess about something, usually when it is not possible to know the exact answer. For example: "I can't remember the name of the movie, so I'll have to hazard a guess and say it was 'The Godfather'."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I can hazard a guess.

Independent

He was invited to hazard a guess.

The New Yorker

Mr. Benepe doesn't hazard a guess.

The New York Times

Well, I think we might hazard a guess.

The New York Times - Books

I hazard a guess of 10, maybe 15 litres?

The Guardian

"I cannot hazard a guess," he said, and hung up.

The New Yorker

Care to hazard a guess as to the finding?

The New York Times - Books

I'll hazard a guess there will be more, though.

The Guardian

With this story, I won't even hazard a guess.

The Guardian - Opinion

Care to hazard a guess what it is?

The Guardian - Tech

Why rabbits grow this way I'm not going to hazard a guess.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing a sentence, ensure the subject is clearly defined. For example, "I hazard a guess that..." or "Can you hazard a guess...?".

Common error

Avoid using "hazard a guess" when you have concrete information or evidence. It's best suited for situations where you're making an educated guess, not stating a known fact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hazard a guess" functions as an idiomatic expression used to indicate that someone is about to make a guess, often when there is a degree of uncertainty involved. It is commonly used as a verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Academia

7%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hazard a guess" is a common idiomatic expression used to indicate making an informed guess when certainty is lacking. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it is best used when offering tentative answers rather than stating known facts. Consider alternatives like "venture a guess" or "speculate" for more formal situations. The examples provided illustrate its widespread use and acceptability across different domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

venture a guess

Similar to "hazard a guess" but suggests a slightly more formal tone and a willingness to take a risk in guessing.

speculate

Focuses on forming a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.

take a stab

Implies making an attempt or a try at guessing something, suggesting less certainty.

conjecture

Suggests forming an opinion or supposition about something on the basis of incomplete information.

make a supposition

Indicates forming an assumption or belief, often without concrete evidence.

hypothesize

Similar to "speculate" but implies a more formal or scientific approach to forming a guess.

take a shot in the dark

Implies guessing without any real knowledge or information, suggesting a high degree of uncertainty.

make a wild guess

Indicates guessing randomly without any logical reasoning or basis.

offer a suggestion

More general than "hazard a guess", indicating a proposition or idea rather than a direct guess.

put forward a theory

Suggests proposing an explanation or hypothesis, often in a more formal or academic context.

FAQs

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

You can use "hazard a guess" when you want to express that you are making an informed guess based on limited information. For example, you might say, "I'll "hazard a guess" that the meeting will be postponed".

What's the difference between "hazard a guess" and "take a wild guess"?

"Hazard a guess" implies a more thoughtful and informed guess based on some knowledge, while "take a wild guess" suggests guessing randomly without much information.

Is "hazard a guess" formal or informal?

"Hazard a guess" is considered an informal expression. It's suitable for everyday conversations and less formal writing. For more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "venture a guess" or "speculate".

What can I say instead of "hazard a guess"?

You can use alternatives like "venture a guess", "take a stab", or "speculate" depending on the context.