hypothetically

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "hypothetically" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you're talking about something that hasn't happened yet or is purely speculative. For example, you could say, "If I hypothetically had the chance, I would travel around the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hypothetically speaking, the chocolate cake will last for up to a week, but I doubt it'll be around that long.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

On these shores, rumours suggest that were Simon Rattle to be thinking about possibly running the London Symphony Orchestra, he would, hypothetically, in an ideal world where everything's putatively perfect, demand, or rather catalyse, the construction of a new concert hall somewhere, somehow, in all probability in the City of London.

The Guardian - Music

Often the CDO is synthetic, ie, only hypothetically backed by loans, and the insurer pays out cash as companies default.The equity tranche is fondly referred to as the "toxic waste", which banks often cannot sell and must keep on their books.

The Economist

To put things less hypothetically, most lawmakers might find that their assessments of the merits of the case, and of the president's convincingness, do not proceed in an airy sunlit realm of pure reason, but are instead influenced by partisan affiliations.

The Economist

If, hypothetically, that does not happen, insiders at the RBI accept that trend growth could be significantly lower.

The Economist

As a pair of American scholars, David Schenker and Christina Lin, write in the Los Angeles Times, Although an Islamist Egypt beset by insecurity and a failing economy might seem of little value to the Chinese, upgraded ties with the troubled nation would provide China with a foothold on the Mediterranean, and include, hypothetically, a port.

The Economist

Or would it not bode well if the bureaucratic capital of a political block of 27 countries seceded from a hypothetically independent Flanders over a matter as trivial as linguistic differences?Alexander Cabot Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSIR – If Belgium were to break apart, why should Brussels be limited to joining Flanders or Wallonia?

The Economist

And if he hypothetically scrapped all industrial exemptions (also unimaginable), the average bill would still fall only a little.Cost is not the only problem with the Energiewende.

The Economist

Andrew Odlyzko, a telecoms guru, once did a survey in which he asked people to choose, hypothetically, between having either e-mail or the entire content of the world wide web: 95% chose e-mail.This has several implications.

The Economist

GUEST BLOGGER | Bryan CaplanPurely hypothetically, suppose you've written a pretty successful book published by Princeton University Press, and been favorably profiled in The New York Times Magazine and The Economist.

The Economist

They do not seek to make a profit, even hypothetically.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hypothetically", ensure that the hypothetical scenario is clearly defined. This prevents confusion and allows your audience to follow your reasoning effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "hypothetically" when discussing established facts or likely outcomes. Overusing it diminishes the impact of genuine scenarios where speculation is necessary and can imply doubt where certainty is warranted.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "hypothetically" primarily functions as a disjunct, modifying an entire clause or sentence to indicate that the statement is based on a hypothetical situation or assumption. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correct usage. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it sets up scenarios for discussion or analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

11%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hypothetically" is a versatile adverb used to introduce hypothetical scenarios or assumptions, primarily functioning as a disjunct. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness, and analysis reveals its prevalence in neutral to formal contexts, particularly in science, news, and business. When using "hypothetically", ensure clear articulation of the hypothetical context. Ludwig's examples demonstrate that "hypothetically" frequently introduces discussions or sets up premises for further analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

purely theoretically

Stresses the purely theoretical nature of the consideration, excluding practical implications.

theoretically speaking

Emphasizes the discussion is based on theory rather than practical application.

in theory

Focuses on the abstract possibility of something, often contrasting with reality.

for the sake of argument

Introduces a point or idea to explore its implications without necessarily agreeing with it.

assuming that

Expresses a condition upon which a statement is based.

let's say

Proposes a scenario or condition for consideration.

supposing that

Presents a hypothetical situation to explore potential outcomes.

if we assume

Highlights the conditional nature of the statement based on an assumption.

on the assumption that

States that a conclusion is based on a specific assumption being true.

under the circumstances

Specifies a conditional environment or situation.

FAQs

How can I use "hypothetically" in a sentence?

"Hypothetically" is used to introduce a situation or condition that is assumed for the sake of argument or exploration. For example, "Hypothetically speaking, what would happen if we doubled our marketing budget?"

What are some alternatives to "hypothetically"?

Alternatives to "hypothetically" include "theoretically", "supposedly", or "assuming that", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "hypothetically speaking"?

Yes, "hypothetically speaking" is a common and acceptable phrase. It's used to explicitly indicate that what follows is a hypothetical scenario or thought experiment.

What is the difference between "hypothetically" and "theoretically"?

While both terms relate to abstract or unproven ideas, "hypothetically" often introduces a specific scenario to consider, while ""theoretically"" refers more broadly to what is possible according to a theory or set of principles.