suggest a connection

USAGE SUMMARY

"suggest a connection" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to propose or indicate a possible link or relationship between two things. It can be used in various contexts and situations, such as in academic writing, business communication, or everyday conversations. Example 1 (academic writing): The findings of this study suggest a connection between diet and cardiovascular health. Example 2 (business communication): Our market research suggests a connection between customer satisfaction and repeat purchases. Example 3 (everyday conversation): The clues we found at the crime scene suggest a connection to the suspect.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He didn't suggest a connection between the two phenomena.

The New Yorker

To suggest a connection between the act and our current emergency is to rewrite recent history.

The New York Times

As for rambunctious behavior at a party school, two demonstrations in recent years suggest a connection between M.S.U.

The New York Times - Sports

But their performances suggest a connection to sexual selection: female lyrebirds may prefer coordinated males, Dr. Dalziell said.

The New York Times - Science

The company name comes from an ancient word for mermaid, which Ms. James chose to suggest a connection between spirit and nature.

The New York Times

In his testimony, Detective McDermott mentioned more than a dozen other telephone calls that prosecutors contend suggest a connection between the two suspects and link them to the crime.

The New York Times

Mr. Assange has denied any wrongdoing and suggested that the charges were trumped up in retaliation for his WikiLeaks work, though there is no public evidence to suggest a connection.

The New York Times

Michael J. Crosbie, editor of Faith & Form Magazine, a journal published in Norwalk for the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture, said the steeples are historic relics of the 18th and 19th centuries, when architects wanted to suggest a connection between earth and heaven.

The New York Times

Hearing it in the company of Korngold's endearingly melodic Violin Concerto, a Romantic throwback composed in 1945, and Bruch's Symphony No. 3, which sounds decades earlier than its 1882 date of composition, it was difficult not to let the context suggest a connection.

The New York Times - Arts

Animal models also suggest a connection between emotional brain centers and light sensitivity.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

There are some peculiarities of the catalogue that suggest a connection to Aristoxenus.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "suggest a connection", ensure that the evidence or reasoning supporting the potential link is clearly articulated to enhance credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "suggest a connection" when the evidence strongly supports a causal relationship. Opt for stronger verbs like "demonstrate" or "prove" when the link is well-established.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suggest a connection" functions as a verb phrase indicating a potential relationship or link between two or more elements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound and common expression used to propose a relationship without definitively proving it.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "suggest a connection" is a versatile phrase used to propose a potential relationship or link between two or more elements. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct and widely used. It is most frequently found in scientific and news contexts, indicating its utility in both formal and neutral settings. When using this phrase, ensure the supporting evidence is clearly articulated. For situations demanding stronger assertions, alternatives like "demonstrate" or "prove" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indicate a link

Replaces "connection" with "link", slightly less formal but conveys the same meaning.

imply a relationship

"Imply" adds a nuance of indirectness, while "relationship" is a synonym for "connection".

hint at an association

"Hint at" suggests a more subtle indication, and "association" is a formal synonym for "connection".

point to a correlation

"Point to" provides directionality, and "correlation" implies a statistical relationship.

infer an association

"Infer" indicates that the connection is deduced from evidence.

speculate on a tie-in

"Speculate" introduces a degree of uncertainty, and "tie-in" suggests a commercial or practical link.

surmise a connection

"Surmise" suggests forming an opinion or conjecture about the connection.

posit a relationship

"Posit" suggests putting forward a relationship as a basis for argument or discussion.

postulate a link

"Postulate" means to suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief.

hypothesize a correlation

"Hypothesize" implies a formal proposition for further investigation.

FAQs

How can I use "suggest a connection" in a sentence?

You can use "suggest a connection" to propose a possible link between two things, as in "The data "suggests a connection" between diet and mood."

What are some alternatives to "suggest a connection"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "indicate a link", "imply a relationship", or "hint at an association".

Is it better to say "suggest a connection" or "prove a connection"?

Use "suggest a connection" when you have some evidence but not enough to definitively establish a relationship. Use "prove a connection" only when you have conclusive evidence.

What's the difference between "suggest a connection" and "imply a connection"?

"Suggest a connection" means to propose a possible link, while "imply a connection" means to indicate it indirectly. The speaker or writer suggests, and the evidence or situation implies.