make us guess

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make us guess" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express that someone is being vague or not providing enough information, prompting others to speculate or infer the answer. Example: "The clues were so cryptic that they really made us guess what the final answer was."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Don't make us guess where you're going".

The New York Times

Much of the drama of these later works is due to that fact that they evade the viewer, and make us guess.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

They supply the edge of doubt that makes us guess.

The New Yorker

He reads us a few of his poems, and keeps missing out the last rhyming word on a line and making us guess it.

The Guardian - Books

In the 70s and 80s, Floella Benjamin was known throughout the land for Humpty and Little Ted, for having beads and braids, and making us guess the window.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's never a bad time to unsubscribe from email newsletters that always make us second guess ourselves, unfollow experts on social media who use scare tactics to grab our attention, switch the radio station when yet another scam diet supplement is promoted, and skip the next episode of Dr. Oz. Being well-informed is important, but it's not as important as taking action.

Huffington Post

The name alone should make us second guess our response.

The Guardian - Opinion

That means we are no longer interested in these ridiculous polls, surveys and questionnaires that make us second guess our decisions or, worse, cause us to realize exactly where our money is being allocated.

Huffington Post

"Compelling cases that make us second-guess our justice system have always struck a chord with the American public," said Benjamin T. Jealous, president of the N.A.A.C.P. "Some are simply more compelling in that they seem to tap deeply into the psyche of this country.

The New York Times

As we become invested in a particular way of living and thinking, we become understandably threatened by differences as they make us second-guess our own approach to life, undermining our hard-earned sense of certainty and control.

Huffington Post

Guilt and insecurity make us second-guess ourselves and, in turn, judge one another and our decisions, and this is harmful.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make us guess", ensure the context implies a deliberate act of withholding information or presenting information in an unclear manner to encourage speculation.

Common error

Avoid using "make us guess" when the lack of clarity is unintentional or due to genuine confusion, rather than a deliberate attempt to prompt speculation. In such cases, phrases like "confuse us" or "mislead us" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make us guess" functions as a causative verb phrase. It indicates that someone or something is causing a group of people ('us') to engage in the act of guessing. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through examples where the phrase sets up a scenario requiring speculation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make us guess" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to convey the act of prompting speculation due to a lack of clarity or intentional ambiguity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it commonly appears in news and media, though it is suitable for a range of neutral contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context implies a deliberate action encouraging conjecture, rather than unintentional confusion. Consider alternatives like "leave us wondering" or "cause us to speculate" for nuanced expression. Overall, "make us guess" serves as an effective tool to emphasize uncertainty and the need for deduction in various communication scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make us speculate

Directly focuses on the act of speculation, similar to "make us guess" but slightly more formal.

leave us wondering

Highlights the state of uncertainty and curiosity resulting from incomplete information.

leave us speculating

Implies a stronger sense of active conjecture due to a lack of clear information.

cause us to speculate

Focuses on the action of causing speculation rather than a direct request to guess.

prompt us to infer

Highlights the process of drawing conclusions based on indirect evidence.

invite our conjecture

A more formal way of saying "make us guess", suggesting an intentional invitation to speculate.

force us to deduce

Emphasizes the need to use logical reasoning to arrive at a conclusion.

lead us to surmise

Suggests forming an opinion or belief based on incomplete information.

compel us to assume

Emphasizes the act of taking something for granted without proof, due to lack of clarity.

keep us in the dark

Focuses on withholding information, resulting in a state of guessing.

FAQs

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

You can use "make us guess" to describe a situation where someone is being intentionally vague, such as, "The teacher's hints were so cryptic they made us guess the answer."

What is a good alternative to "make us guess"?

Alternatives include "leave us wondering", "cause us to speculate", or "prompt us to infer", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "makes us guess" instead of "make us guess"?

The phrase "makes us guess" is grammatically correct when the subject is singular (e.g. "The riddle makes us guess"), whereas "make us guess" is used with plural subjects (e.g. "The cryptic clues make us guess").

What is the difference between "make us guess" and "make us wonder"?

"Make us guess" implies a deliberate withholding of information or an intentional puzzle, while "make us wonder" suggests a more general sense of curiosity or uncertainty. For example, a magic trick might "make us wonder", while a detective novel might "make us guess" the culprit.