overwhelming assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overwhelming assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a belief or idea that is widely accepted or taken for granted, often without sufficient evidence. Example: "The overwhelming assumption among the team was that the project would be completed ahead of schedule, despite the challenges we faced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The overwhelming assumption of my female students (and male ones to a lesser degree) is that they will marry, have children, give up work to be a 主婦 (shufu, housewife) etc, etc.

The Guardian

The implication of this anecdote – that crime fiction depends on readers' respect for the investigator – poses a challenge to mainstream British crime fiction, in which there is an overwhelming assumption that justice will ultimately be done.

The Guardian - Books

"There's this overwhelming assumption that Muslims are populating the earth, and not only are they growing at this exponential rate in the Muslim world, they're going to be dominating Europe and, soon after, the United States," she said.

The New York Times

The overwhelming assumption is that if this ever came to a vote, MPs would repeat what they did in February last year when they voted by 234 to 22 to keep the blanket ban on prisoner voting.

BBC

There is an overwhelming assumption that kids don't care about politics.

Huffington Post

But John Edwards is caught having an extramarital affair and the overwhelming assumption is that his political career is absolutely over.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It's the overwhelming, working assumption as people are making strategy going into 2015 and 2016".

Huffington Post

There is, within this overwhelming support, an assumption, as some of my survey respondents and interviewees argue, that lesbian marriage somehow subverts the heterosexual, patriarchal narrative – but does it?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The campaign was built on the assumption of overwhelming force.

The New York Times

Still, overwhelming is overwhelming.

The New York Times - Arts

The T.S.A. cites polls showing overwhelming support for body scanners, on the assumption that they deter terrorism.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "overwhelming assumption", ensure you provide context or evidence to either support or challenge it, as assumptions, even when widely held, can be inaccurate or misleading.

Common error

Avoid simply accepting an "overwhelming assumption" without critical evaluation. Always examine the basis for the assumption and consider alternative possibilities to avoid biased conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overwhelming assumption" functions as a noun phrase, where "overwhelming" modifies the noun "assumption". It describes an assumption that is widely held or strongly believed. This is supported by Ludwig's analysis and the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overwhelming assumption" is a noun phrase used to describe a widely held belief or idea, often taken for granted. Ludwig's analysis confirms it's grammatically correct and usable in various contexts. While not extremely frequent, it commonly appears in news, scientific, and formal business settings. It's essential to critically evaluate such assumptions rather than blindly accept them. Consider using alternatives like "widespread belief" or "prevailing notion" for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

widespread belief

Replaces "assumption" with "belief", focusing on the widespread nature of the idea. The adjective "overwhelming" is replaced with a more neutral term.

prevailing notion

Substitutes "assumption" with "notion", indicating a generally accepted idea. "Prevailing" suggests dominance and acceptance of such idea.

dominant presumption

Replaces "assumption" with "presumption", implying something taken as true. "Dominant" emphasizes its widespread acceptance.

common understanding

Replaces the term of "assumption" with "understanding", focusing on mutual agreement or awareness. "Common" suggests shared knowledge.

general consensus

Shifts the focus to agreement among people, replacing "assumption" with "consensus". "General" indicates a broad agreement.

widely held view

Emphasizes the widespread nature of the opinion, replacing "assumption" with "view". "Widely held" indicates broad acceptance.

accepted wisdom

Suggests that the assumption has become a standard belief, changing "assumption" to "wisdom".

established principle

Implies a foundational belief, replacing "assumption" with "principle". "Established" indicates long-term acceptance.

ingrained conviction

Conveys a deeply rooted belief, substituting "assumption" with "conviction". "Ingrained" suggests it is firmly established in thought.

pervasive idea

Highlights the widespread presence of the idea. Changes the term of "assumption" to "idea".

FAQs

How can I use "overwhelming assumption" in a sentence?

You can use "overwhelming assumption" to describe a belief or idea that is widely accepted, often without much scrutiny. For example: "There's an "overwhelming assumption" that younger people are more tech-savvy than older people."

What are some alternatives to "overwhelming assumption"?

Alternatives include "widespread belief", "prevailing notion", or "dominant presumption", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to use "overwhelming assumption" or "common assumption"?

"Overwhelming assumption" emphasizes the widespread acceptance of the idea, while "common assumption" simply indicates it is frequently held. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the degree of acceptance or just its commonality.

What does it mean when something is described as an "overwhelming assumption"?

It suggests that the idea is so widely accepted that it may be influencing people's thinking or actions, potentially without them even realizing it or questioning its validity.