postulated

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "postulated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a hypothesis or theory that is suggested as a basis for further discussion or investigation. For example: The professor postulated that the evolution of language was fundamental to the survival of humanity.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Neutrinos, Mr Päs explains, may offer a way to probe the extra dimensions of space postulated by some "theories of everything".

The Economist

He postulated that the economic progress of the past 250 years may have been a unique period in human history.It seems rather early to declare an end to the era of computational innovation: the original industrial revolution took over a century to play out.

The Economist

The most famous such problem, Fermat's last theorem, was postulated in the 17th century.

The Economist

As an example, Mr Mankiw uses the case of radiologists in India analysing the X-rays, sent via the internet, of American patients.Mr Mankiw's proposition, in essence, is the law of comparative advantage, first postulated by David Ricardo two centuries ago and demonstrated to astonishing effect since.

The Economist

Every such collision spawns more junk a phenomenon known as the Kessler syndrome, named after Donald Kessler, an American physicist who postulated it in the 1970s.

The Economist

So hard that Wolfgang Pauli, the Austrian physicist who postulated their existence in 1930, wagered a case of champagne that no one would ever do so.

The Economist

A senior American military officer has postulated that North Korea may now have the capacity to launch intercontinental missiles from a mobile launcher.

The Economist

Today, most electronic devices, ranging from wireless networks to optical communications, contain one or more of the semiconductors described in the 1966 paper.In the early 1980s, this time from first principles and without any experimental data, Dr Cohen postulated that silicon could turn into a superconductor when put under intense pressure.

The Economist

Some writers have postulated that the current plan is an attempt to exhaust the non-nationalisation possibilities so that nationalisation must be chosen (and embraced by Congress) as a solution.

The Economist

"IT HAS not escaped our notice that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material".

The Economist

For his part, the normally pugnacious former treasury secretary promised to "temper my words and actions in ways that convey respect and help us work together more harmoniously".The prompt for this is a speech Mr Summers made in January, in which he postulated that the shortage of female science professors might in part be due to innate differences between the sexes.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "postulated", ensure the context clearly indicates that you're presenting a hypothesis or theory that is being suggested or assumed as a basis for reasoning. Use it to introduce ideas that are not yet fully proven.

Common error

Don't use "postulated" when you mean something has been definitively proven or established. "Postulated" implies a degree of uncertainty or a theoretical basis that requires further validation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "postulated" is as the past tense or past participle of the verb 'postulate'. It's used to indicate that someone has put forward a theory, idea, or principle as a basis for reasoning or discussion. Ludwig AI confirms that "postulated" is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "postulated" serves as the past tense or past participle form of the verb 'postulate', used to present a theory or idea as a basis for reasoning. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability. It is common in formal and scientific contexts, appearing frequently in science-related articles, news reports, and business documents. The primary function of "postulated" is to introduce a hypothesis that needs further exploration rather than presenting an established fact. Remember not to use "postulated" if you mean to say something has been proven. To reiterate, you may consider using "hypothesized" or "theorized" as alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hypothesized

Implies a tentative explanation or assumption made as a basis for reasoning, differing slightly in formality.

theorized

Focuses on the development of a theory, suggesting a more structured and comprehensive approach than "postulated".

proposed

Indicates a formal suggestion or plan put forward for consideration, often in a more practical context.

posited

Similar to "postulated" but often used in philosophical or academic contexts to assert a basic principle.

suggested

Implies a less assertive and more tentative proposition, often based on indirect evidence.

asserted

Indicates a strong and confident declaration of a fact or belief, contrasting with the more tentative nature of "postulated".

presumed

Implies an assumption made on the basis of probability or likelihood, rather than direct evidence.

conjectured

Suggests a guess or speculation based on incomplete information, conveying a higher degree of uncertainty.

speculated

Implies a more imaginative and less grounded form of hypothesizing, often lacking solid evidence.

advanced

Focuses on presenting an idea or argument, often in a debate or discussion, with less emphasis on its initial basis.

FAQs

How is "postulated" typically used in a sentence?

Typically, "postulated" is used to introduce a theory or idea that is suggested as a possible explanation for something but has not yet been definitively proven. For instance, "The scientist "postulated" a new theory about the origins of the universe".

What are some alternatives to using "postulated"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "hypothesized", "theorized", or "proposed". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "postulated" when referring to a well-established fact?

No, it's generally not correct. "Postulated" implies a degree of uncertainty or theoretical basis. Use it for ideas that are being suggested or explored, not for facts that are already confirmed.

What's the difference between "postulated" and "asserted"?

"Postulated" suggests a theory or hypothesis being put forward for consideration, while "asserted" implies a confident declaration of a fact or belief. "Postulated" is more tentative, while "asserted" is more forceful.