setup the premise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "setup the premise" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form should be "set up the premise," where "set up" is a verb phrase. Example: "In the first chapter, the author sets up the premise for the entire story, introducing the main conflict and characters."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We have become so acclimated, so habituated to the idea that running a marathon is achievable that it has become, in our dramatic imaginations, not a triumph in itself but the preliminary, the setup, the premise, to a more dramatic story.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They are: The Setup: establishes the premise of the joke by providing the audience with the necessary background information.

WikiHow

There are no artful or leisurely setups explaining the premise -- immediately they're recapping the last kill of Dawn, the angry, 8-months-pregnant defending champion and killer of 10, played by Brooke Smith ("The Silence of the Lambs," "Vanya on 42nd Street").

The New York Times

Pull out test were performed in fabricated experimental setup in the premises of Delhi Technological University, Delhi.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

We used the following setup for the evaluation: for the premise machines, we used two 3.5 GHz dual core machines with 8.0 GB of memory, one as the application server and another as our database server.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

In Haneke's film, the style is the premise for the setup: the willful exclusion of the characters' inner life (yes, there is a dream sequence and a brief fantasy both generic) throws the burden of interpretation on viewers.

The New Yorker

In "Simone," the premise is thin to begin with, and Niccol repeats his basic setup over and over.

The New Yorker

This oversize dynamic notwithstanding, the family discourse derives from television, and the setup of an alien being coming to stay with a cute-natured, good-humored family -- well, wasn't that the premise of "Alf"?

The New York Times

The premise?

The New York Times

The premise is false.

The New York Times - Sports

The premise is straightforward.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "set up the premise", "establish the premise" or "lay out the premise" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "setup" as a verb. "Setup" is primarily a noun. Instead, use the verb form "set up" (two words) or more formal alternatives like "establish" or "define".

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a verb phrase + noun attempting to describe the action of establishing a foundation for an argument or narrative. However, Ludwig AI highlights that the term is grammatically incorrect, advising the user to adopt the correct verb form "set up" or alternative expressions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "setup the premise" might seem intuitive, it's grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "set up the premise", where "set up" functions as a phrasal verb. Other alternatives such as "establish the premise" or "lay out the premise" are more grammatically sound and frequently used in formal writing. Although the phrase appears in various contexts like News & Media, Wiki, and Science, opting for grammatically correct alternatives enhances clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

establish the premise

Replaces "setup" with the more formal and grammatically sound verb "establish".

lay out the premise

Uses the phrasal verb "lay out" to convey the idea of presenting the premise clearly.

define the premise

Focuses on clearly outlining the premise.

outline the premise

Highlights the act of presenting the premise in a structured manner.

present the premise

Emphasizes the act of introducing the premise.

introduce the premise

Highlights the initial unveiling of the premise.

formulate the premise

Focuses on the creation and articulation of the premise.

develop the premise

Highlights the process of expanding and refining the premise.

construct the premise

Emphasizes the building or creation of the premise from its components.

posit the premise

Uses a more formal term, "posit", to suggest asserting the premise.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "setup the premise"?

No, "setup the premise" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is to use "set up the premise", treating 'set up' as a phrasal verb, or use alternatives like "establish the premise".

What's a better alternative to "setup the premise"?

Alternatives to "setup the premise" include phrases like "establish the premise", "define the premise", or "lay out the premise". These options are more grammatically sound and widely accepted.

How do I use "set up the premise" in a sentence?

You can use "set up the premise" in a sentence like this: "In the introduction, the author must set up the premise clearly for the readers to understand the argument."

What is the difference between "setup the premise" and "set up the premise"?

"Setup" as one word is typically a noun, while "set up" (two words) is a phrasal verb. Therefore, "setup the premise" is incorrect, and you should use "set up the premise" to correctly convey the action of establishing a premise.