make a guess

USAGE SUMMARY

'make a guess' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone does not know the answer to a question, or when someone is trying to guess something. Example sentence: "I don't know what the answer is, so I'll just have to make a guess."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Outsiders can only follow the trend and make a guess.

The Economist

Next we make a guess at the antenna angle.

Cornell University

We can make a guess about Pas ta and Grisi.

The New York Times

Make a guess of all the expenses involved.

The New York Times

My father might take 10 minutes to make a guess.

The New York Times - Magazine

He could at best make a guess it was within an order of magnitude.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I would make a guess and begin swimming back where I thought the shore might be.

The Guardian - Books

Until now, psychologists have assumed that when people make a guess, they make the most accurate guess that they can.

The Economist

We make a guess (e.g. T i =j) about the output of the first aforementioned T-box lookup.

University of California, Berkeley

Then we can make a guess about how many galaxies there are in the visible universe (also about 100 billion).

Cornell University

All you can do is make a guess based on your age, sun exposure, skin colour and diet.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is paramount, follow up "make a guess" with phrases like "based on", "according to", or "in my estimation" to contextualize and qualify the guess's foundation.

Common error

While "make a guess" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid overuse in formal or scientific writing. Instead, opt for more precise alternatives like "estimate", "hypothesize", or "conjecture" to maintain a higher level of formality and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a guess" functions as a verb phrase used to describe the act of offering an estimation or answer based on incomplete information. As evidenced by examples provided by Ludwig, it is employed in various contexts, from casual conversations to more formal analyses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make a guess" is a versatile phrase, widely used to indicate the act of offering an estimate or answer based on incomplete information. It is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, including news, academic, and scientific domains. While highly prevalent, it should be used judiciously in formal writing, where more precise alternatives may be preferred. According to Ludwig, "make a guess" is a standard phrase suitable for diverse communicative scenarios. The frequency and range of authoritative sources citing this phrase underscore its acceptability and relevance in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hazard a guess

Suggests a more formal and cautious attempt to guess.

venture a guess

Implies a slight risk or uncertainty in making the guess.

take a shot

Emphasizes the attempt or try, often implying a risk.

take a stab at it

Informal way to suggest attempting a guess, indicating uncertainty.

speculate

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

offer a suggestion

Broader than a guess, it implies providing a possible solution or idea.

hypothesize

Implies creating a testable explanation based on limited evidence.

propose an estimate

More formal, referring to providing a quantitative estimation.

formulate a conjecture

A more formal and academic term for making an educated guess.

put forward a hypothesis

Suggests a more formal and scientific type of guessing, requiring further investigation.

FAQs

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

You can use "make a guess" when someone is trying to estimate or answer something without knowing the answer. For example, "I don't know the exact number, but I can "make a guess"."

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

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

Is it better to "make a guess" or "take a guess"?

Both "make a guess" and "take a guess" are commonly used and generally interchangeable. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific context, without a significant difference in meaning.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "make a guess"?

It's appropriate to use "make a guess" in situations where an exact answer is unknown or unavailable, and a speculative or approximate response is acceptable. This is fitting in neutral or informal settings, but can be too casual for formal contexts.