misleading assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "misleading assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a belief or idea that is incorrect or deceptive in nature. Example: "The study was based on a misleading assumption that all participants had the same level of experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There may be a misleading assumption at work here, namely that for a gene to be "off" it must be actively repressed.

Cell Reports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

While misleading assumptions describe the gown as '70's-inspired', the truth is that it actually copies the traditional embroidered black wedding dress famous in the Egyptian oasis Siwa.

Huffington Post

Virginia Dale, an ecologist at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, says that "after much anguish," she decided to keep her name on the report even though she worries it could be "misleading if the assumptions of the analysis are not considered".

Science Magazine

The second is the announcement of new interpretive rules, such as Judge Kozinski's "litigation science" test, that rest on idealized, misleading, or misinformed assumptions about the scientific method.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Anti-START op/eds abound, laden with all sorts of ludicrously misleading assertions and flawed assumptions.

Huffington Post

In response: Cox's letter (1 ) contains a number of false assumptions, errors, misleading assertions, and misquotations.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

A spokesperson for Universities UK says that: "It is misleading to make a crude assumption that time spent in lectures and seminars can be equated with university course quality.

The Guardian

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors, warned it was "misleading to make a crude assumption that time spent in lectures and seminars can be equated with university course quality".

The Guardian

"It is misleading to make a crude assumption that time spent in lectures and seminars can be equated with university course quality.

BBC

The results also show that ignoring the common support assumption leads to misleading conclusions about the extent to which rural urban gaps in malnutrition are driven by differences in characteristics or differences in coefficients.

Health Economics Review

Instrument characteristics or limitations must be considered or they can contradict these simplified assumptions, resulting in misleading averages.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "misleading assumption", ensure that you clearly articulate why the assumption is misleading and what the correct alternative is. Providing context helps to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that an assumption is misleading without explaining the consequences. Failing to do so can leave your audience wondering why it matters.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "misleading assumption" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "misleading" modifies the noun "assumption". It describes an assumption that is likely to cause someone to believe something that is not true. Ludwig's examples show how it's used across different domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "misleading assumption" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to denote a belief or idea that is incorrect or deceptive. According to Ludwig, its use spans across various contexts, including science, news, and formal business settings. The phrase serves to highlight flawed reasoning and encourages critical evaluation. Remember to clearly articulate why the assumption is misleading and consider alternatives like "false premise" or "incorrect presupposition".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

false premise

Focuses on the incorrect foundation of an argument or idea.

incorrect presupposition

Highlights the flawed underlying belief or expectation.

erroneous belief

Emphasizes the incorrect nature of the held belief.

deceptive premise

Focuses on the intention or effect of deceiving.

flawed assumption

Highlights the presence of a defect or weakness in the assumption.

unfounded presumption

Stresses the lack of a solid basis or evidence.

inaccurate hypothesis

More specific to scientific or investigative contexts, focusing on the inaccuracy of the starting hypothesis.

invalid premise

Indicates that the basis for a conclusion is not legally or logically sound.

dubious supposition

Suggests that the assumption is questionable or uncertain.

untenable assumption

Highlights that the assumption is indefensible or cannot be maintained.

FAQs

What does "misleading assumption" mean?

A "misleading assumption" is a belief or idea that is incorrect or deceptive, leading to flawed conclusions or decisions.

What can I say instead of "misleading assumption"?

You can use alternatives like "false premise", "incorrect presupposition", or "erroneous belief" depending on the context.

How to use "misleading assumption" in a sentence?

Example: "The economic forecast was based on a "misleading assumption" that interest rates would remain low."

What's the difference between "misleading assumption" and "false premise"?

While both refer to incorrect foundations, "misleading assumption" implies a potential for deception, while "false premise" simply indicates an incorrect starting point.