put forward a hypothesis

USAGE SUMMARY

"put forward a hypothesis" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to propose or suggest a theory or explanation for something. Example: The scientist put forward a hypothesis to explain the unusual behavior of the animals in the study.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

With the caveat that there is no way to know for sure, without access to the inner governmental archives, let me put forward a hypothesis that seems at minimum plausible: At home, elections are looming, and the major focus of the emerging campaign, till last week, was the domestic social and economic crisis -- not foreign policy.

Huffington Post

Here, we put forward a hypothesis to account for the enigmatic complexity of chloroplast gene expression.

BMC Biology

Since loop 3 is unlikely to directly interact with elongation factors, they put forward a hypothesis in which this loop assists in pseudotranslocation by affecting ribosome conformation.

eLife

In that article the authors put forward a hypothesis casting doubts on the benefit of enucleation that was the prevailing management of choroidal melanoma at that time.

BMC Cancer

Here we put forward a hypothesis about why biomarkers tend to reflect relevant states in the emergence or progression of the disease.

BMC Systems Biology

Based on these results we put forward a hypothesis in which EMT is driven in large part by chromatin-mediated activation of transcriptional positive feedback loops.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The article puts forward a hypothesis for the construction technique, which could provide a perception of the architectural development of arches and an aspect of the dynamic of learning – in progress in the building cultures.

Construction and Building Materials

The paper puts forward a hypothesis that the essence of benzene and phenol oxidation on a PbO2 anode is direct hydroxylation of these components to phenol (benzene) hydroquinone and pyrocatechol (benzene and phenol) by hydroxyl radicals formed on the anode.

Electrochimica Acta

"O.K., things have changed, and we have more people working and better techniques — but it still takes a lot of time to understand what is going on, especially if you're putting forward a hypothesis of deliberate body disposal.

The New Yorker

(Afterward, Solís's promoter, Ahmet Öner, upheld boxing tradition by putting forward a hypothesis that was not strictly in accordance with empirical observation: "If his knee hadn't given in, he would have won that fight").

The New Yorker

He will then be like a scientist who puts forward a hypothesis and deduces its consequences without mistake only to find that experience fails to confirm the supposition on which he is working.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "put forward a hypothesis", clearly state the hypothesis and the evidence or reasoning behind it. This ensures clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid stating a hypothesis too broadly. A vague hypothesis is difficult to test and validate. Be specific and define measurable variables when you "put forward a hypothesis".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put forward a hypothesis" functions as a verb phrase introducing a proposed explanation or theory. It is commonly used to present a new idea that requires further investigation or validation. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples from scientific and news sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "put forward a hypothesis" is a phrase used to introduce a new theory or explanation for something. Grammatically correct, its usage is most prevalent in science and academic writing and less common in everyday speech. The phrase, while suggesting a formal tone, calls for a clear statement of the hypothesis and its supporting evidence. Ludwig AI underlines that the phrase is indeed valid and has confirmed these observations by presenting numerous examples from a wide array of sources. While alternatives like "propose a theory" exist, "put forward a hypothesis" has a specific function in formal discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

propose a theory

Replaces "put forward" with a more concise verb and "hypothesis" with a more general term.

advance a proposition

Uses a more formal verb, "advance", and replaces "hypothesis" with "proposition", suggesting a formal proposal.

posit a conjecture

Employs sophisticated language, substituting "put forward" with "posit" and "hypothesis" with "conjecture", implying a speculative idea.

suggest a possible explanation

Offers a less formal alternative, suitable for general communication and clarifying the meaning of "hypothesis".

offer a speculation

Replaces "hypothesis" with "speculation", indicating a more tentative suggestion.

present a thesis

Suitable for academic contexts, "present a thesis" implies a more detailed and researched proposal than a hypothesis.

formulate an assumption

Focuses on the foundational aspect of a hypothesis, suggesting an assumption that serves as a starting point.

table a motion

Suggests a proposal for consideration, often in a formal setting.

introduce an idea

Uses simpler language, emphasizing the introduction of a new concept or thought.

float a trial balloon

Implies testing an idea to gauge reaction before fully committing to it.

FAQs

How do I use "put forward a hypothesis" in a sentence?

You can use "put forward a hypothesis" when introducing a new idea or explanation that needs further investigation. For example, "The researcher "put forward a hypothesis" suggesting that the new drug could reduce cancer cells growth".

What is a good alternative to "put forward a hypothesis"?

Alternatives include "propose a theory", "advance a proposition", or "suggest a possible explanation" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to "put forward a hypothesis" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "put forward a hypothesis" is more common in formal or academic settings. In everyday conversation, consider using a simpler phrase like "I think that" or "maybe".

What's the difference between "put forward a hypothesis" and "make an assumption"?

"Put forward a hypothesis" involves proposing a testable explanation, while "make an assumption" means accepting something as true without proof. A hypothesis requires investigation, whereas an assumption is often a starting point.