premise of what

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "premise of what" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be used when questioning the basis or foundation of a specific argument or idea, but it requires additional context to be meaningful. Example: "The premise of what you are arguing seems unclear to me."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

"What is laughable is the basic premise of what is going on," Charlie Stenholm, the endangered Texan, said.

The New Yorker

That's the whole premise of what you're asking the question is whether or not the campaign colluded with Russia.

The Washington Post

"He's always starting with the premise of, What does everyone else believe that's erroneous?" said Keith Rabois, a friend of Mr. Thiel's and former PayPal executive.

The New York Times

"The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative embodies the fundamental premise of what America is all about: equal opportunity under the law," he said.

The New York Times

It comes from a flawed premise of what happened in 2012, and doesn't have much bearing on how the economy affected the race.

The Guardian - Opinion

Well, he said, I agree with that idea, that's a big premise of what I'm trying to do, but I wouldn't want to come across as negative, because that turns people off.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Man Ray, 147 West 15th Street, has moved into the premises of what was briefly a hot spot called 147.

The New York Times - Food

Tirman argues that both sides in the immigration debate are 'dream chasers,' driven by contrasting premises of what is just, fair, and legitimate.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

He refuses to accept any of the premises of what he calls "parliamentary cretinism", preferring to judge politicians by their proximity to the absolute moral truth contained in "the communist hypothesis".

The Guardian

The next year, Comte chose the evolution of Humanity as the new topic for his public course; this was an occasion to lay down the premises of what would become the new Religion of Humanity.

SEP

Still, Vaucluse, on the Upper East Side premises of what had been Park Avenue Café, is very much a departure for White in that it is a straight-down-the-line French restaurant, with traditional and classic cooking, but always given a personal twist that redeems them from being predictable.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "premise of what" with more precise alternatives such as "basis of what" or "foundation of what" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "premise of what" in formal writing contexts where precision is crucial. Opt for clearer and more direct alternatives to ensure your message is easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "premise of what" typically functions as a noun phrase, serving to identify the foundation or basis of something. However, Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English, indicating that the intended function might not be effectively achieved.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

27%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "premise of what" appears in various sources, including news and academic contexts, Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically questionable and lacks clarity. It aims to identify the foundation of something, but more precise alternatives like "basis of what" or "foundation of what" are recommended. The phrase has a neutral register, and appears uncommonly. To enhance clarity and ensure effective communication, especially in formal writing, consider using these alternatives instead. Though frequently used authoritative sources the grammatical correctness is questionable. Therefore, the expert rating is moderate due to this inconsistency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

basis of what

This alternative replaces "premise" with "basis", focusing on the fundamental groundwork or foundation.

foundation of what

Similar to "basis of what", this option emphasizes the supporting structure upon which something is built.

underlying assumption of what

This phrase highlights the assumptions that are not explicitly stated but are necessary for the argument or concept to hold.

core idea of what

This alternative shifts the focus to the central or most important idea being discussed.

central tenet of what

This option emphasizes the main principle or belief that is essential to a larger system or philosophy.

fundamental principle of what

This phrase underscores the basic rule or law upon which something is based.

starting point of what

This option refers to the initial stage or assumption from which an argument or discussion begins.

original concept of what

This alternative focuses on the initial idea or plan that something is based on.

root assumption of what

This phrase highlights the fundamental assumption at the very base of a thought process or theory.

primary supposition of what

This option emphasizes the initial belief or assumption used as a basis for reasoning.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "premise of what" that offer better clarity?

Consider using alternatives like "basis of what", "foundation of what", or "underlying assumption of what" depending on the specific context to improve clarity.

In what contexts is the phrase "premise of what" most likely to appear?

The phrase "premise of what" can be found in news articles, academic papers, and general media. However, it's often more appropriate to use clearer alternatives in formal writing.

Is "premise of what" grammatically correct in formal English?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "premise of what" is often considered awkward and can be improved by using more precise alternatives like "basis of what" or "foundation of what".

How can I ensure my writing is clear when discussing the underlying assumptions of an argument?

When discussing underlying assumptions, be specific and use phrases like "underlying assumption of what" or "core idea of what" to avoid ambiguity and ensure your message is easily understood.