kind of guess

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kind of guess" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express uncertainty or a lack of confidence in one's answer or opinion. Example: "I kind of guess that the meeting will be postponed, but I'm not sure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

"You can kind of guess and speculate".

The New Yorker

"If you stayed till the 6 o'clock boat, you had to kind of guess where to step," said Cullen Palicka.

The New York Times

Why, he would walk up to that window, rap on it, and do a kind of "Guess what!

The New Yorker

"Before, you had to kind of guess about what people were eligible for, wait for them to find out and then recalculate everything.

The New York Times

But that you have to kind of "guess" the content of the theme and work those Down entries to piece it together is what makes this a Thursday and not an early week puzzle.

The New York Times

Joe: Retaliation' (PG-13, 1 50) With a sequel to a movie about a Hasbro toy, you can kind of guess what you're getting: a lot of noise with occasional plot mixed in.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Mark Goodson's original idea was for a kind of guess-what-I'm-thinking show that would take advantage of that era's love of thought experiments; that soon proved boring, and matches were not frequent enough.

The New York Times - Arts

"We're kind of guessing the character," she said.

The New Yorker

We're kind of guessing on these population figures.

Yale University

Like most things in this business, you're always just kind of guessing.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Over that time we just became friendly, and I liked him, and I kind of guessed that he liked me".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kind of guess" to indicate a lack of certainty or when providing an approximation. It's suitable in informal contexts where precise accuracy isn't essential.

Common error

Avoid using "kind of guess" in formal or academic writing where precision and certainty are expected. Opt for more precise language to convey your meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kind of guess" primarily functions as a qualifier, softening a statement and indicating a level of uncertainty or approximation. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its role in expressing tentative opinions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kind of guess" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express uncertainty or approximation. Ludwig's analysis indicates it's more common in informal contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science, but less suitable for formal writing where precision is valued. Alternatives like "sort of assume" or "roughly estimate" may be more appropriate in formal settings. Although the phrase is correct, based on the limited number of examples and Ludwig's evaluation, it's best reserved for scenarios where a lack of certainty is acceptable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Almost guess

Implies coming close to an answer through intuition or inference.

Kind of suspect

Expresses a degree of suspicion without concrete proof.

Sort of assume

Implies a slight inclination to believe something without firm evidence.

Sort of believe

Implies a partial or tentative belief in something.

Approximately deduce

Suggests drawing a conclusion based on incomplete information.

Roughly estimate

Suggests a calculation that is not exact but close to the actual value.

Speculate a bit

Suggests forming a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.

Tentatively infer

Indicates drawing a conclusion with a degree of uncertainty.

Vaguely recall

Indicates an unclear or incomplete memory of something.

More or less predict

Indicates a forecast that is not precise but generally accurate.

FAQs

What does "kind of guess" mean?

The phrase "kind of guess" indicates an approximation or a tentative assumption, suggesting the speaker is not entirely certain about something.

How can I use "kind of guess" in a sentence?

You can use "kind of guess" to express uncertainty, such as in the sentence, "I "kind of guess" the meeting will be delayed, but I'm not sure".

What can I say instead of "kind of guess"?

Alternatives to "kind of guess" include phrases like "sort of assume", "roughly estimate", or "vaguely recall", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "kind of guess" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "kind of guess" is generally more suitable for informal contexts. In formal writing, it's better to use more precise and confident language.