random guess

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "random guess" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used when someone makes a guess without any specific reason or evidence to support it. Here is an example: "I had no idea what the answer was, so I just made a random guess on the multiple choice question."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

As a random guess would yield a recall of 10%, the Random Forest classifier improves recall by 80%.

EPJ Data Science

"Gaydar," it appeared, was little better than a random guess.

The New Yorker

As it turned out, their forecast wasn't much better than a random guess.

The New York Times - Magazine

"As Bob said from the beginning, the two-week timetable was just kind of a random guess more than anything based on past history of these MCL injuries.

The Guardian - Sport

which is non-negligible over random guess.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

c Histogram of error distance by random guess.

Computational Social Networks

Note that the random guess performance of this dataset is 0.1%%.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

Initialize the matrix with a random guess of solutions in the solution matrix.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

It is easy to see that a random guess model has AUC= 0.5.

Security Informatics

Note that a random guess approach has a reliability of 1/3.

Robotics and Biomimetics

Thus in the challenge phase, if, he makes a random guess for the selected tag.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "random guess" when you want to emphasize the lack of a logical or informed basis for an estimation or prediction. It's suitable in contexts where acknowledging uncertainty is important.

Common error

Avoid using "random guess" when you mean to describe an educated guess. An educated guess is based on some knowledge or prior experience, whereas a "random guess" is made without any specific reason or evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "random guess" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It describes a guess that is made without any specific method or reasoning. Ludwig examples show its use across diverse contexts, from scientific evaluations to casual commentary, reflecting its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

17%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "random guess" is a frequently used noun phrase that describes a guess made without any specific knowledge or reasoning. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability, supported by numerous examples across various fields. While suitable for general communication, it's essential to differentiate it from an "educated guess", which implies some level of informed reasoning. When you want to emphasize the lack of a basis for an estimation, "random guess" is the appropriate choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

blind guess

This alternative emphasizes the lack of any information or insight guiding the guess.

arbitrary guess

This suggests the guess is based on personal whim or preference rather than logic.

wild guess

This phrase highlights the speculative and unfounded nature of the guess.

haphazard estimate

This implies a lack of care or planning in arriving at the estimation.

uninformed speculation

This emphasizes the absence of knowledge or data supporting the guess.

chance prediction

This suggests the prediction is based on luck or randomness.

baseless assumption

This highlights that the assumption lacks any supporting evidence.

off-the-cuff conjecture

This conveys that the conjecture is impromptu and not well-considered.

guess without foundation

This indicates that the guess is completely unsupported by any facts or evidence.

pure shot in the dark

This idiom suggests the guess is made with very little chance of being correct.

FAQs

How can I use "random guess" in a sentence?

You can use "random guess" to describe an estimation or prediction made without any specific knowledge or reasoning. For example, "Since I didn't study, my answer on the test was just a "random guess"".

What's the difference between "random guess" and "educated guess"?

A "random guess" is made without any prior knowledge or reasoning. An "educated guess", on the other hand, is based on some level of knowledge, experience, or available information.

Are there situations where it's better to provide a "random guess" than no answer at all?

In some scenarios, such as multiple-choice tests with no penalty for incorrect answers, a "random guess" is better than leaving the question blank. However, in professional settings, it's usually better to admit uncertainty rather than offer a "random guess".

What are some alternatives to "random guess"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "blind guess", "wild guess", or "arbitrary guess" to convey a similar meaning.