mere guessing

USAGE SUMMARY

"mere guessing" is an expression that is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about a guess that you feel is either uneducated or based on limited information. For example, "His guesses about the future of the company are based on mere guessing - he's not privy to the actual figures."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In particular, people who report a "tip-of-the-tongue" experience usually are able to identify the word's first letter and the number of syllables with an accuracy that far exceeds mere guessing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The only conclusion to be drawn is that the spatial arrangements of Las Meninas are in constant flux, and that something larger is going on than a mere guessing game.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They forgot they were making mere guesses, and even guesses have to be taken with caution.

The New York Times

"Unless the company can successfully negotiate its current situation, its forecasts for the current fiscal year and next year as well are likely mere guesses".

The New York Times

Berne herself is the first to admit that these are mere guesses, but their frequency starts to undermine the book and feel like so much padding.

The New York Times - Books

"Mere guesses or 'hunches,' or the reporting of suspicious activity alone is not enough to constitute a reasonable suspicion and are not sufficient bases to watchlist an individual".

The Guardian

That standard may be met by an allegation that the suspect has terrorism ties if the claim is corroborated by at least one other source, it said, but "mere guesses or 'hunches' are not enough".

The New York Times

The specialists said they were confident that far more than 50 companies used abusive shelters and that the number of 50 was a mere guess used to comply with the paperwork act's requirements.

The New York Times

Joined by Clayton Grigg of the FBI's terrorist screening center, Steinbech asserted that "mere guesses or 'hunches', or the reporting of suspicious activity alone, are not sufficient to establish reasonable suspicion".

The Guardian

As hundreds of Ms. Manigat's supporters waited and waited — the city's epic traffic jams make starting times for anything a mere guess — Mr. Célestin's motorcade suddenly emerged, bobbing and weaving through the masses on its way to his rally.

The New York Times

A federal official nominating such a person for inclusion on the list just needs "reasonable suspicion" of a danger – something defined as more than "mere guesses or hunches", based on articulable information or "rational inferences" from it, but far less than probable cause.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mere guessing" to clearly indicate that a guess is not based on solid evidence or reasoning. This emphasizes the speculative nature of the claim or statement.

Common error

Avoid presenting something based on "mere guessing" as a well-supported conclusion. Ensure that the speculative nature is clear to your audience to avoid misleading them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mere guessing" functions as a noun phrase, where "mere" modifies the noun "guessing". It denotes a type of guessing that is purely speculative and lacks a solid foundation. Ludwig AI confirms this with examples from various sources.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mere guessing" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe speculation devoid of substantial evidence. Though infrequent, as noted by Ludwig, its function is to undermine the reliability of a guess. Use it to suggest conjecture, but avoid relying on it for important decisions. Alternatives such as "pure speculation" or "wild guess" can add nuance, depending on the desired level of emphasis on the lack of certainty. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is acceptable and usable in written English, serving as a straightforward way to express the speculative nature of an assumption.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pure speculation

Emphasizes the complete lack of factual basis, suggesting it's entirely based on conjecture.

wild guess

Highlights the randomness and lack of informed basis in the guess.

blind guess

Suggests a guess made without any information or insight.

unsubstantiated guess

Explicitly states the absence of supporting evidence for the guess.

baseless conjecture

Similar to "pure speculation", stressing the lack of foundation.

random shot in the dark

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the low probability of success due to lack of information.

uninformed estimate

Focuses on the lack of knowledge used to create the estimate.

simple guess

Highlights the guess is simple without any evidence.

rough guess

Indicates an approximation without precision or certainty.

raw speculation

Indicates an incomplete speculation without analysis or consideration.

FAQs

How can I use "mere guessing" in a sentence?

You can use "mere guessing" to describe assumptions or predictions that lack evidence, as in, "Their conclusions were based on "mere guessing", not on factual data."

What are some alternatives to "mere guessing"?

Alternatives include "pure speculation", "wild guess", or "unsubstantiated guess". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it ever appropriate to rely on "mere guessing"?

While not ideal for critical decisions, "mere guessing" can be useful for brainstorming or initial exploration when concrete data is unavailable. Always acknowledge its limitations.

What's the difference between "mere guessing" and an educated guess?

An educated guess involves some degree of prior knowledge or experience, while "mere guessing" is based on little to no information. The former is more informed and potentially more reliable.