speculative statement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'speculative statement' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that has not been proved or is based on assumptions or guesses. For example: "The scientist's suggestion was a speculative statement, based on his observations of the data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This was the sort of speculative statement that never worked as a warning while we were married, and I don't know why it should have worked on post-divorce outings.

The New York Times

For the spokesman to even make such a speculative statement suggested that Mr. Rouhani had already decided that his foreign minister would be doing the negotiating henceforth and that Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final word on the nuclear issue, had agreed, despite his own deep mistrust of the West.

The New York Times

However, that seems rather a speculative statement given that none of our high SES participants – of whom some were also relatively older and overweight – expressed this preference.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Imagine if these results were released later on, after candidates had locked in speculative statements about what the report would say and mean.

The New York Times

Communicators were faced with a catch-22 situation: make speculative statements about extreme weather and climate change, or sit on their hands while the very changes scientists had been predicting for decades materialised around them.

The Guardian - Opinion

As in the Aufbau and especially in Pseudoproblems in Philosophy, also here the inclusion of terms and statements in the system of science by this method was intended to exclude all nonsensical speculative statements.

SEP

Judge Katherine Forrest ruled that any speculative statements or opinions about who may or may not have been Dread Pirate Roberts would not be allowed in future testimony and that previous testimony would be stricken from the record.

TechCrunch

Speculative statements are all well and good, but the news still made me wonder whether any other #RKOI are now worried that their own belongings are going to be targeted by marauding fire starters.

Vice

Brian Dodge, a lobbyist for retailers, slams the move as a political gesture, calling it representative of "a pattern where the big banks make wildly speculative statements, with little or no foundation in reality, in an effort to generate sympathy, frighten consumers and influence politics".

Huffington Post

We emphasize that our present study was not designed to link brain activations with behavior directly, so the above rather speculative statements are simply flagged as possible targets for future studies to clarify.

Plosone

Discourse analysis of this type would improve the distinction between facts, speculative statements, pre-existing and new work.

Bioinformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "speculative statement", ensure that the context clearly indicates that the statement is based on conjecture and lacks concrete evidence. This avoids misinterpretations and maintains transparency.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "speculative statement" as a definitive fact. Instead, use qualifying language such as 'it is believed that' or 'it is hypothesized that' to accurately reflect the level of certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "speculative statement" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "speculative" modifies the noun "statement". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and can be used to refer to something based on assumptions or guesses.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "speculative statement" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe claims lacking concrete evidence, often found in news, media and scientific contexts. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is suitable for referring to something based on assumptions. When employing this phrase, it's important to ensure the context clearly conveys the uncertain nature of the statement. Alternatives such as "hypothetical assertion" or "conjectural remark" can also be employed depending on the desired level of formality. While infrequent, "speculative statement" serves as a useful term for highlighting claims rooted in conjecture.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conjectural remark

Replaces "statement" with "remark", implying a casual expression of opinion.

hypothetical assertion

Substitutes "speculative" with "hypothetical", suggesting a condition or premise taken as true for the sake of argument.

unsubstantiated claim

Focuses on the lack of supporting evidence rather than the speculative nature.

tentative declaration

Emphasizes the provisional nature of the statement.

theoretical proposition

Highlights that the statement is based on theory rather than proven fact.

presumptive pronouncement

Suggests the statement is made with a degree of assumption or presumption.

guesswork

Replaces entire phrase with single word emphasizing lack of certainty.

baseless opinion

Implies a lack of foundation for the expressed belief.

unconfirmed report

Highlights that the information lacks validation.

iffy statement

An informal term for statement that is uncertain or doubtful

FAQs

How can I use "speculative statement" in a sentence?

You can use "speculative statement" to describe claims lacking solid evidence. For example: "The economist's forecast was deemed a speculative statement because it relied on several unproven assumptions."

What is a more formal alternative to "speculative statement"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "hypothetical assertion" or "theoretical proposition". These options convey a similar meaning with a more academic or professional slant.

Is it appropriate to use "speculative statement" in scientific writing?

Yes, but with caution. In scientific writing, it's important to clearly label statements as speculative when they are based on preliminary data or theoretical models. This ensures transparency and prevents readers from misinterpreting them as established facts.

What's the difference between a "speculative statement" and a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation that can be tested through experimentation or observation, whereas a "speculative statement" is a broader term for any claim that lacks strong evidence and is based primarily on conjecture. While a hypothesis can be speculative, not all "speculative statements" are testable hypotheses.