principal premise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "principal premise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the main argument or foundational idea in a logical reasoning or philosophical context. Example: "The principal premise of her argument is that all humans have an inherent right to freedom."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

State-sponsored gambling gives the lie to a principal premise under which state governments were established: to protect the people.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"This whole pitching staff was constructed with two principal premises: that John Smoltz was going to go back to the starting rotation and Dan Kolb would come in and take the spot vacated by Smoltz," Schuerholz said.

The New York Times

Usually, they are conducted without an educational leader, like a principal, on the premises, and without the company of older students.

The New York Times

Their principal motivator was the premise that future processing platforms should not disregard the advantages of multi-valued processing [11 15].

Nanoscale Research Letters

They decided to execute a "definitive depth-attitude survey", to explore the premise that the principal problem of advertising is not with the general public but with criticism of it that stems through though-leader groups.

The New Yorker

Khashab had agreed to mediate a meeting at a mosque on the refinery premises between the principal's family and the misbehaving boy's family.

The New York Times - Magazine

So, for example, if the taxpayer used the premises as the principal residence for one year, moved out for three years, and then moved back in for the last year before the sale, this would allow him or her to qualify for the exclusion.

The New York Times

Several scenes are taken directly from Faraway, So Close! and Wenders' 1987 film Wings of Desire, which also served as the principal inspiration for the video's premise.

Wikipedia

Current clinical practice is focused on the premise that oestrogen is the principal growth stimulator in select ER-positive breast cancers.

British Journal of Cancer

Since the treatment was provided on the school premises, the principals and local educational officers did not authorize a design where certain children in the same school would serve as non-treatment controls.

BMC Oral Health

Using these four premises, Leibniz attempts to establish three principal conclusions.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "principal premise", ensure that it truly represents the most important underlying assumption or foundation of your argument or analysis. It's crucial for clarity and logical coherence.

Common error

Avoid focusing solely on the "principal premise" to the neglect of other supporting or secondary premises. A strong argument often requires a combination of primary and secondary premises working together.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "principal premise" functions as a noun phrase, identifying the most important foundational statement or assumption upon which an argument or conclusion is based. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "principal premise" is a valid and grammatically correct phrase used to denote the most important foundational statement of an argument. Although Ludwig AI indicates that it's not very common, it holds significant value in formal writing, especially when clarity and logical precision are paramount. Related phrases include "core premise" and "main premise". When employing this phrase, ensure that it genuinely represents the cornerstone of your reasoning to avoid logical inconsistencies. Also, remember to consider the source domain (scientific or academic) to adjust the language formality and level of detail accordingly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

core premise

Focuses on the essential and fundamental nature of the premise.

main premise

Highlights the primary or most important premise.

key assumption

Emphasizes the role of the premise as an underlying assumption.

primary assumption

Stresses the foundational aspect of the assumption.

central tenet

Indicates that the premise is a guiding principle or belief.

fundamental principle

Highlights the basic and essential nature of the principle.

foundational premise

Emphasizes the role of the premise as a base or foundation.

underlying assumption

Focuses on the implicit nature of the assumption.

basic presupposition

Highlights the idea of something being assumed beforehand.

chief presupposition

Emphasizes the primary and most important presupposition.

FAQs

How can I use "principal premise" in a sentence?

You can use "principal premise" to highlight the core assumption or foundation of an argument. For example: "The "core premise" of his argument is that human nature is inherently good."

What's a good alternative to "principal premise"?

Alternatives include "main premise", "key assumption", or "primary assumption", depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "principal premise" and "underlying assumption"?

"Principal premise" emphasizes the primary or most important assumption, while "underlying assumption" simply refers to an assumption that is not explicitly stated but is implied.

Is it redundant to say "basic principal premise"?

Using "basic" with "principal premise" can be redundant, as "principal" already implies the fundamental or core nature of the premise. It's generally better to simply use "principal premise".