it was postulated to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was postulated to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a theory or hypothesis that has been suggested or assumed in a particular context. Example: "In the study, it was postulated to be the case that increased exercise leads to improved mental health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Among them, bryostatin-1 is a macrolytic lactone (ML) which is a series of cyclic macrolides, and it was postulated to be produced by a bacterial symbiont of the bryozoan (Mayer & Gustafson, 2008).

The Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology

It was postulated to initiate and regulate membrane fusion.

Plosone

Resveratrol attracted little interest until 1992 when it was postulated to explain some of the cardioprotective effects of red wine.

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy

Lastly, we examined factors associated with health-related quality of life, as it was postulated to be adversely affected by side-effects associated with some anti-hyperglycemic medications.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Microtubules are commonly implicated in directing intracellular traffic of membrane-bound vesicles or molecular complexes; accordingly, it was postulated to influence cadherins through their intracellular traffic.

BMC Cancer

This gene encodes for an inner membrane protein and it was postulated to respond to tobramycin and affect surface appendages which are important for biofilm formation.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Despite this, there are no data on teen pregnancy, but it is postulated to be high, based on the high prevalence of early female marriage and the high unmet need for family planning.

Pastoralism

It is postulated to have a regulatory effect on G-protein coupled receptors.

Plosone

It is postulated to promote colonization of plant tissues and to provide protection from harsh environmental conditions, and it contributes to occlusion of vascular elements in wilts and blights [41], [45].

Plosone

It is postulated to have a central role in the maintenance of mtDNA copy number.

British Journal of Cancer

It is postulated to have evolved in placental mammals to modulate intrauterine resource allocation to the offspring.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was postulated to", ensure the statement is supported by some evidence or reasoning, even if preliminary. It indicates a starting point for further investigation or discussion.

Common error

Avoid presenting a postulation as an established fact. The phrase indicates a proposed explanation, not a definitive conclusion. Use qualifiers like "may", "could", or "might" to maintain appropriate nuance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was postulated to" functions as a reporting verb construction in the passive voice. According to Ludwig, it indicates the presentation of a hypothesis or theory. The examples show its use in academic and scientific writing to introduce proposed explanations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was postulated to" is a formal construction used to introduce a hypothesis or proposed explanation. According to Ludwig, its primary function is to present a theory requiring further investigation, predominantly in scientific and academic contexts. While grammatically correct, it's important to use it appropriately, recognizing that it signals a suggestion rather than a definitive conclusion. When a less formal tone is required, alternatives such as "it was suggested that" or "it was hypothesized that" may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was hypothesized that

Replaces "postulated" with "hypothesized", indicating a proposed explanation based on limited evidence.

it was theorized that

Substitutes "postulated" with "theorized", suggesting a more formal or developed explanation.

it was proposed that

Uses "proposed" instead of "postulated", implying a suggestion or plan put forward for consideration.

it was suggested that

Replaces "postulated" with "suggested", indicating a tentative or preliminary idea.

it was assumed that

Substitutes "postulated" with "assumed", implying something taken for granted without proof.

it was speculated that

Uses "speculated" instead of "postulated", suggesting a conjecture or educated guess.

it was presumed that

Replaces "postulated" with "presumed", indicating an assumption based on probability or likelihood.

the assumption was made that

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the act of assuming something.

the prevailing theory held that

Focuses on an established or widely accepted explanation.

researchers put forward the idea that

Highlights the action of researchers in introducing a new concept or explanation.

FAQs

What does "it was postulated to" mean?

The phrase "it was postulated to" means that someone proposed or suggested an idea or theory, often based on existing evidence but without definitive proof. It indicates a hypothesis or a starting point for further investigation.

What can I say instead of "it was postulated to"?

You can use alternatives like "it was hypothesized that", "it was suggested that", or "it was proposed that" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it is postulated that"?

Yes, "it is postulated that" is grammatically correct. The past tense "it was postulated that" refers to a postulation made in the past, while the present tense "it is postulated that" refers to a current postulation.

How formal is the phrase "it was postulated to"?

The phrase "it was postulated to" is relatively formal and is often used in academic, scientific, or technical writing. In more informal contexts, you might use simpler alternatives like "it was thought that" or "it was believed that".