one could make that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "one could make that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting a possibility or interpretation regarding a statement or situation. Example: "In analyzing the data, one could make that assumption based on the trends observed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

No one could make that mistake today.

The New York Times

No one could make that point about our skyscrapers.

The New Yorker

One could make that case, perhaps: hearing the poets read their works illuminated the texts nicely, and in some cases showed that the poets and Ms. Weir were drawn to different aspects of them.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

These adversarial superpowers have decades of experience with restraint, but now, facing each other over Syria, one miscalculation could make that experience moot.

Huffington Post

Why, then, would you not support the one reform that could make that goal a reality?

The New York Times

One Presidential election could make that happen.

The New Yorker

Then one has to make an assumption as to the profits one could make on that money if it was invested instead of being paid to the government with the tax payments due in 2002.

The New York Times

Based on physiology, one could make the hypothesis that this impairment may occur in the specific condition of preload responsiveness, i.e. if the heart is working on the steep and initial part of the cardiac function curve [26].

Annals of Intensive Care

One could make a case that without those two periods, our reservoirs would be well below normal today".

The New York Times

One could make a case that's why we're always stuck in the shampoo cycle, but blurred lines are the nature of the beast in this space.

Huffington Post

Russell's discovery of a hidden contradiction in Frege's attempt to formalize set theory, with the help of his simple comprehension scheme, caused some mathematicians to wonder how one could make sure that no other contradictions existed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure. Although grammatical, overuse of "one could make that" may make your writing monotonous. Consider using alternatives like "it is arguable that" or "a case can be made that".

Common error

Avoid using "one could make that" when presenting a well-established fact or a conclusion based on solid evidence. The phrase is best suited for speculative or tentative claims. Do not use this construction to make factual claims more palatable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one could make that" functions as a hedge, softening a statement and presenting it as a possibility or suggestion rather than an assertion. Ludwig AI confirms this expression is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "one could make that" is a grammatically correct expression used to introduce a possible interpretation or argument. According to Ludwig AI it is correct. It functions as a hedge, softening the statement and indicating that it is not a definitive fact. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts and has a neutral register. While not extremely frequent, its use is consistent and appropriate when presenting tentative claims or inviting consideration of alternative viewpoints.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's arguable that

Replaces "one could" with a more direct assertion of arguability, maintaining the speculative tone.

it is plausible to say that

Emphasizes the plausibility of a statement, making it a reasonable claim to make.

a case can be made that

Highlights the possibility of constructing a logical argument in favor of something.

it's conceivable that

Focuses on the conceivability or imaginability of a scenario.

one might suggest that

Replaces "could make" with "might suggest", softening the assertion and making it more of a suggestion.

it's a possibility that

Downplays the statement to simply being a potential outcome.

one may infer that

Shifts the focus to the act of inferring something from available information.

that might be inferred

Focuses more on the potential for inference by an outside observer.

that's a fair assertion

Highlights the fairness or reasonableness of the assertion being made.

that's a reasonable conclusion

Emphasizes the rationality and soundness of arriving at a specific conclusion.

FAQs

How can I use "one could make that" in a sentence?

The phrase "one could make that" is used to introduce a possibility, a claim, or an argument that is open to interpretation or debate. For example, "One could make that assumption, but further investigation is needed".

What phrases are similar to "one could make that"?

Alternatives to "one could make that" include phrases like "it's arguable that", "a case can be made that", or "it's conceivable that", each carrying a slightly different nuance in emphasis.

Is "one could make that" formal or informal?

"One could make that" is generally considered neutral in register, suitable for both formal writing and informal conversation, although it is more common in written discourse than in casual speech.

What's the difference between "one could make that" and "one can make that"?

"One could make that" suggests a hypothetical or conditional possibility, while "one can make that" implies a general ability or permission. The use of "could" often introduces a softer, more speculative tone compared to the more direct "can".