made some guesses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made some guesses" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of estimating or hypothesizing about something without having complete information. Example: "After analyzing the data, I made some guesses about the potential outcomes of the experiment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

So I made some guesses.

The New Yorker

Referring to Microsoft as "they," instead of "we," Mr. Blackley discussed the different sizes of Xbox controllers for Japan and North America, made some guesses about Sony's plans for online games and apologized for E3.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Duckworth could make some guesses.

The New Yorker

Hilton management decided that it needed to make some guesses about the economy, even if they proved wrong.

The New York Times

Incidentally, if you assume that the Republican contest will continue to go back-and-forth and make some guesses about how each state will vote, you wind up with a lot of scenarios like this one.

The New York Times

"The War That Made America," a four-part edutainment series that begins tonight on PBS, makes some guesses about that and hundreds of other lost historical details, as it chronicles the French and Indian War in high-gloss and ultimately successful re-creations.

The New York Times - Arts

"We have been struggling all weekend, and we had to make some guesses as to what kind of set-up we wanted and it seemed to work OK.

BBC

After a few responses, Like Better makes some guesses about your personality, ranging from political preferences to your income bracket.

TechCrunch

When they initially set their premiums, they had to make some guesses.

Huffington Post

While this study did not look into why higher intelligence was associated with higher depression rates in autism, we can make some guesses.

Vice

So, she makes some guesses.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "made some guesses", ensure the context clearly indicates the basis for the guesses. If the guesses are based on data or observation, specify that to add credibility.

Common error

Avoid presenting guesses as facts or definitive conclusions. Use qualifying language to indicate the speculative nature of the statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made some guesses" functions as a verbal phrase. It typically serves to describe the action of forming opinions or estimations when complete information is unavailable. Ludwig confirms that this expression is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

22%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "made some guesses" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express tentative estimations or opinions based on incomplete information. While Ludwig confirms its validity, it's essential to consider the context and formality level when choosing this expression. As Ludwig AI shows, its most frequent usage appears in "News & Media", while other sources such as "Science" and "Wiki" also employ the expression. For more formal settings, consider more precise alternatives like "offered a few estimations" or "hazarded a couple of conjectures". It’s important to avoid presenting guesses as definitive conclusions and to clearly indicate the speculative nature of the statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ventured a few predictions

Implies forecasting or projecting based on current trends or data, with an inherent uncertainty.

speculated on some scenarios

Implies contemplation or discussion of potential events or situations without firm evidence.

offered a few estimations

This alternative suggests a slightly more formal and precise approach to guessing, implying a degree of calculation.

surmised a few outcomes

Suggests forming an opinion or belief based on incomplete information or intuition.

drew some inferences

Implies a logical deduction or conclusion based on available evidence, rather than a pure guess.

hazarded a couple of conjectures

This phrase is more formal and suggests a tentative or speculative guess, often in an academic or technical context.

formulated some presumptions

Suggests a belief or idea that is taken to be true, although not based on proof.

posited several possibilities

This alternative introduces multiple options or suggestions for consideration, acknowledging uncertainty.

put forward some hypotheses

This alternative implies a more structured and scientific approach to guessing, often used in research or investigation.

took a stab in the dark

Suggests a guess made with very little information, implying a low chance of being correct.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "made some guesses" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "offered a few estimations", "hazarded a couple of conjectures", or "formulated some presumptions".

What's the difference between "made some guesses" and "drew some inferences"?

"Made some guesses" implies forming opinions or estimations without complete information, while "drew some inferences" suggests a logical deduction or conclusion based on available evidence.

Is it appropriate to use "made some guesses" in academic writing?

While "made some guesses" is grammatically correct, it might be too informal for academic writing. Consider using more precise and formal alternatives such as "put forward some hypotheses" or "posited several possibilities" to maintain a professional tone.

When is it best to use "took a stab in the dark" instead of "made some guesses"?

Use "took a stab in the dark" when you want to emphasize that the guess was made with very little information and is likely to be incorrect. It conveys a higher degree of uncertainty than "made some guesses".