provisional assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provisional assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a temporary or tentative belief or conclusion that is subject to change based on further evidence or information. Example: "The provisional assumption is that the project will be completed by the end of the month, but this may change depending on resource availability."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

You might think that the right response is to operate on the provisional assumption that this relationship will continue to hold, rather than simply assume it away because it isn't properly microfounded — and you'd be right, in my view.

The New York Times

(Recall our provisional assumption in section one that parthood is two-place. We are now considering a reason for dropping that assumption).

SEP

It is better to make the provisional assumption that his interest in volition derives, like other main elements of his philosophy, from the early Stoa, though with greater emphasis.

SEP

Under the provisional assumption of a causal edge between E1 and E2, our objective is to determine which direction best explains the data.

BMC Systems Biology

The former usually features the provisional assumption that GE covariance is absent, while the latter places great emphasis on GE covariance arising in plausible notions of genotype environment interplay or person environment interplay (Loehlin and DeFries 1987; Plomin et al. 1977; Scarr 1992; Scarr and McCartney 1983).

Behavior Genetics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

In the up-to-date accounts of scientific inquiry, the corollary would be "the evidence of things not directly seen," but things that can be brought to (indirect and provisional) visibility by the assumption and application of powerful theories and the procedures they call into being.

The New York Times

It means in the six months since April the trust has operated on assumptions and provisional figures.

BBC

There is currently no complete phylogeny of birds to the subspecific level, so our analysis is provisional and depends on the assumption that taxonomic hierarchies contain information about the branching patterns of evolutionary trees.

Plosone

And yet nothing whatsoever in democratic theory entitles us to the assumption that such a provisional consensus will emerge.

Comparative Migration Studies

Given the evidence of pervasive artifacts uncovered here, and in many other molecular phylogenetic studies of deep relationships as well [ 6, 48, 50, 52, 53, 55- 60], that assumption must be considered provisional.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

With respect to the consumption outcome, it was not judged credible to make assumptions needed to enable provisional estimation of a SMD and its standard error, due to the level of ambiguity in the reporting of these outcome data and the lack of scope for imputing data from similar studies in this specific case.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always justify the use of a "provisional assumption" by explaining why a more definitive conclusion is not yet possible.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "provisional assumption" as a fully validated fact. Ensure your language reflects the tentative nature of the assumption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provisional assumption" functions as a noun phrase that introduces a premise or belief that is accepted temporarily. As highlighted by Ludwig, such assumptions are subject to revision upon the availability of further evidence. This contrasts with a more definitive statement, providing a flexible foundation for reasoning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "provisional assumption" is a noun phrase that introduces a temporary belief or premise, often used when complete information is unavailable. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is most common in scientific and news media contexts, indicating a degree of formality. To enhance clarity, always indicate the conditions under which the assumption may change. When writing, be cautious of overstating the certainty of any conclusion based on a "provisional assumption". This phrase serves as a tool for navigating uncertainty while maintaining analytical rigor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary hypothesis

Replaces "assumption" with "hypothesis", suggesting a more formal and testable idea, still tentative.

tentative belief

Substitutes "assumption" with "belief", softening the certainty of the initial proposition.

working hypothesis

Emphasizes the practical, exploratory nature of the assumption, often used in research.

temporary premise

Replaces both words to underscore the time-limited nature and foundational role in reasoning.

initial supposition

Highlights the starting point nature of the assumption with slightly increased formality.

conditional presupposition

Emphasizes that the assumption is dependent on certain conditions being met.

interim assumption

Highlights that the assumption is to be used until further information is available.

educated guess

Replaces the whole phrase emphasizing a guess based on existing knowledge.

speculative proposition

Emphasizes the uncertain nature of the assumption, highlighting that it's based on speculation.

best guess

Simple alternative that conveys a non-expert tentative assumption made with limited available information.

FAQs

How does a "provisional assumption" differ from a regular assumption?

A "provisional assumption" is specifically understood to be temporary and subject to change, whereas a regular assumption might be held with more conviction or perceived stability. A provisional one requires to be handled with more caution in your arguments.

When is it appropriate to use a "provisional assumption"?

Use a "provisional assumption" when you need to proceed with a line of reasoning or analysis despite incomplete information, acknowledging that your conclusion might need revision as more data becomes available.

What are some alternatives to "provisional assumption"?

You can use alternatives like "preliminary hypothesis", "tentative belief", or "working hypothesis" to convey a similar meaning.

How do I make it clear that my assumption is "provisional"?

Use phrases that explicitly indicate tentativeness, such as "for the time being", "pending further evidence", or "subject to change" when introducing your "provisional assumption".