make a guess about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make a guess about" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used when someone wants to encourage or challenge others to guess or predict something. For example: - I couldn't believe it when my friend made a guess about the surprise party I was planning. - Can you make a guess about how many jelly beans are in the jar? - Let's play a game where we make guesses about what's inside this mysterious box. - The teacher asked the students to make a guess about the outcome of the experiment. - Before we reveal the final answer, take a moment to make a guess about who the mystery guest is.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

If you make a guess about something and it's not right, see if you can still rescue some grain of truth.

The New York Times

By looking at the rate of diversification, geneticists can make a guess about how long ago all AIDS strains were the same.

The Economist

In addition, Microsoft has added some serious smarts that will, for example, make a guess about where your arm really is if you put it behind your back.

The New York Times

Some studies believe people are less likely to make a guess about whether a suspect is a match when they view individuals one at a time.

The New York Times

"They are giving up billions in revenue," he said, noting that investors would have to "make a guess about when the advertising line would make up for it".

The New York Times - Tech

This is irreversible, inexorable, over the next ten or 15 years.To you, what is the priority for the next government President: It would be presumptuous of me to make a guess about the priorities of the new government.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The top layer makes a guess about which senone it thinks the system has heard.

The Economist

He has made a guess about the effect that change would have.

The New York Times - Magazine

She stepped toward him, head cocked to one side, as if making a guess about him.

The New Yorker

Before any dig takes place, his team, led by his wife, Rita Savage, researches the historical record of an area, compares period maps with contemporary maps and makes a guess about sites where something of value might be found.

The New York Times - Arts

When I plug current numbers into the Abramowitz model (making a guess about 1st-half GDP and assuming that Bush approval in June will be about where it is today), it says 57-43 Democrats.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When prompting someone to guess, provide sufficient context or clues to make the guessing process engaging and meaningful.

Common error

While acceptable, "make a guess about" can sound informal in certain professional or academic settings. Opt for alternatives like "hypothesize" or "conjecture" to maintain a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a guess about" functions as a verb phrase, prompting an individual to formulate a prediction or estimate concerning a particular subject. Ludwig provides examples across various domains, supporting its versatile application.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make a guess about" is a grammatically correct and relatively common phrase used to encourage predictions or estimations. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides various examples from news, science, and general contexts. While appropriate for most situations, more formal alternatives like "conjecture about" or "hypothesize concerning" may be preferable in academic or professional settings. Consider the context and audience to choose the most appropriate phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hazard a guess about

This alternative emphasizes the uncertainty or risk associated with making a guess.

venture a guess regarding

This alternative emphasizes the risk or uncertainty associated with making a guess.

conjecture about

This option is more formal, implying a guess based on incomplete information.

speculate regarding

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the act of forming a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.

surmise regarding

This alternative implies forming an opinion or belief based on incomplete evidence.

hypothesize concerning

This alternative is scientific and suggests forming a testable proposition about something.

theorize about

This alternative implies developing a theory or explanation about something.

posit about

This alternative is more formal and suggests putting forward an idea or argument for consideration.

estimate concerning

This alternative implies making an approximate calculation or judgment about something.

form an opinion about

This alternative is broader, encompassing any type of judgment or assessment, not just a guess.

FAQs

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

You can use "make a guess about" when you want someone to predict or estimate something, such as "Can you make a guess about how many people will attend the event?"

What's the difference between "make a guess about" and "hazard a guess about"?

"Make a guess about" is a general way to ask someone to guess. "Hazard a guess about" implies there's some risk or uncertainty involved in the guessing, or that the guess might be difficult to make.

Are there more formal alternatives to "make a guess about"?

Yes, in formal contexts, you could use terms like "speculate regarding", "conjecture about", or "hypothesize concerning".

Is "make a guess about" grammatically correct?

Yes, "make a guess about" is grammatically correct and commonly used in spoken and written English. Ludwig AI confirms its validity with numerous examples from reliable sources.