reckless assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reckless assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a belief or conclusion that is made without careful consideration or thought, often leading to negative consequences. Example: "His reckless assumption that the project would succeed without proper planning ultimately led to its failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The repeated calls made by our president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, to negotiate a peaceful settlement of this sovereignty dispute rules out this reckless assumption.

The New York Times

We can make a reckless assumption that the same will be true when the cast reminisces on "M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion Special" and "Mary Tyler Moore Reunion".

The New York Times - Arts

Coolness — the reckless assumption of mystic mojo — looms often in the attitudes and even the semi-official locutions of a country that is testing the potential of American, what-the-hell dash.

The New Yorker

But this was a reckless assumption when interest rates were rising and house prices softening.An over-reliance on unseasoned risk models is also partly to blame for bad underwriting.

The Economist

The problem, Greenwald said, is that Gregory seemed to endorse the idea himself, and "embedded into his question this completely baseless, reckless assumption that I had aided and abetted him".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Baby boomers did not determine the rates at which they made contributions to their pension schemes, nor were they responsible for the financial policies of those schemes: I vividly recall an insurance expert explaining to me – as long ago as 1977 – that the pensions industry was built on reckless assumptions.

The Guardian - Money

That allowed investors to make reckless bets on the assumption that lending agencies would rescue them when things went wrong.

The New York Times

He revealed the upcoming article in an Instagram post, calling it "a reckless disregard for the truth, making assumptions that are fictional and irresponsible," and suggesting it aimed to damage "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Huffington Post

The assumption that only brave or reckless people undertake solo journeys off the beaten track is without foundation.

The Guardian - Travel

Some of its 10 bullet points were true (yes, Mr. Kennedy was cited for reckless driving while in college), but others were misleading assumptions (no, his accomplishments were not "scant").

The New York Times - Tech

This means a 66% chance of preventing 2C of global warming and a 50% chance of preventing 1.5C – an assumption of risk that in any other field would be regarded as reckless.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "reckless assumption", ensure that the context clearly illustrates the potential negative consequences or risks associated with the assumption.

Common error

Avoid using "reckless assumption" when a simpler term like "mistake" or "error" would suffice. The phrase is most effective when highlighting a gamble or disregard for potential harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reckless assumption" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "reckless" modifies the noun "assumption". This construction serves to highlight the imprudent and careless nature of a particular belief or supposition. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its use in contexts where a lack of careful consideration leads to negative consequences.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reckless assumption" is a valid and grammatically correct term used to describe a belief made without adequate consideration of the facts or potential consequences. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is primarily found in News & Media contexts. While relatively rare, its usage effectively conveys disapproval or criticism regarding imprudent decisions or beliefs. Alternatives such as "rash presumption" or "foolhardy supposition" can be used to provide variety, but it's important to understand the nuances in each similar phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rash presumption

Changes "assumption" to "presumption" and "reckless" to "rash", implying a hasty and ill-considered belief.

foolhardy supposition

Substitutes "assumption" with "supposition" and "reckless" with "foolhardy", highlighting the imprudence of the belief.

imprudent conjecture

Replaces "assumption" with "conjecture" and "reckless" with "imprudent", suggesting a lack of wisdom in forming the belief.

ill-advised inference

Changes "assumption" to "inference" and "reckless" to "ill-advised", emphasizing the poor judgment in drawing the conclusion.

unfounded hypothesis

Replaces "assumption" with "hypothesis" and "reckless" with "unfounded", indicating a lack of evidence to support the belief.

careless presumption

Substitutes "reckless" with "careless", softening the intensity of the lack of thought given to the assumption.

irresponsible belief

Replaces "assumption" with "belief" and "reckless" with "irresponsible", highlighting the lack of accountability in holding the belief.

unwarranted inference

Changes "assumption" to "inference" and "reckless" to "unwarranted", focusing on the lack of justification for the belief.

baseless surmise

Substitutes "assumption" with "surmise" and "reckless" with "baseless", indicating that the belief has no foundation.

hasty generalization

Replaces "assumption" with "generalization" and "reckless" with "hasty", emphasizing the quick and superficial nature of the conclusion.

FAQs

What does "reckless assumption" mean?

A "reckless assumption" refers to a belief or conclusion made without careful consideration of the facts, potential risks, or consequences. It implies a degree of irresponsibility or disregard for potential harm.

How can I use "reckless assumption" in a sentence?

You can use "reckless assumption" to describe actions or decisions based on insufficient evidence or a lack of foresight. For example: "The company's failure was due to the "reckless assumption" that demand would continue to grow."

What are some alternatives to "reckless assumption"?

Alternatives to "reckless assumption" include "rash presumption", "foolhardy supposition", or "ill-advised inference", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always wrong to make assumptions?

Not all assumptions are inherently negative. However, a "reckless assumption" is specifically criticized for its lack of due diligence and potential for negative outcomes. Making informed assumptions based on available data is often necessary, but ignoring potential risks is unwise.