surmise about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surmise about" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when discussing conjectures or assumptions regarding a particular topic, but it is more effective to use "surmise" without "about." Example: "I can only surmise the reasons behind her sudden departure."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The private rooms of public people are temptations, risky invitations to surmise about their lives.

The New York Times

It is not for us to seek answers or to surmise about behaviour.

The Guardian

It requires someone to make a surmise about the intentions of the deceased at the time of death.

The New Yorker

And yet Obama's public words, and what we can surmise about his non-public diplomacy, have seemed right to me, if a day late.

The New Yorker

She just saw the descriptions of the explosion like everyone else, made a surmise about the injuries, and recognized that they needed to get as many rooms ready as they could.

The New Yorker

He studies the shape and size of the mark and pounds out a latch based on what he sees and what he can surmise about the date of the original.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

And he is working on a new project: If xenointoxication kills bedbugs, he surmised, how about ticks?

The New York Times

Equally interesting are Parker's surmises about works Melville never published that did not survive.

The New York Times - Books

The catalog documented what Ms. de Ludinghausen had long heard and surmised about her family's legacy.

The New York Times - Arts

These changes may or may not have destabilized him: it is not easy to make surmises about a man as grandly dysfunctional as Lowry.

The New Yorker

People are and have always been anxious, De Botton surmises, about their place in the world, about what other people think of them.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "surmise about" is understandable, consider using simply "surmise" followed by a clause or "surmise that..." for a more concise and standard expression.

Common error

Avoid using "surmise about" when "surmise" alone is sufficient. The preposition "about" is often unnecessary and can make the sentence sound awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surmise about" functions as a verb phrase with a preposition, indicating an act of making a conjecture or inference concerning something. However, Ludwig suggests that the preposition "about" is often redundant.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "surmise about" is not incorrect, it is less common and can often be replaced by the simpler "surmise" for better clarity and conciseness. As Ludwig AI suggests, the word "about" can often be redundant in this context. The phrase is primarily used in news and scientific contexts. Alternatives such as "speculate about" or "conjecture about" exist but don't address the core issue of redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surmise regarding

Replaces the preposition "about" with the preposition "regarding".

speculate about

Replaces "surmise" with "speculate", maintaining the preposition "about".

speculate on

Replaces "about" with "on", creating a slightly different prepositional phrase.

conjecture about

Substitutes "surmise" with "conjecture", keeping "about".

theorize about

Replaces "surmise" with "theorize", implying a more structured or considered guess.

guess about

Uses "guess" instead of "surmise", indicating a less formal assumption.

hypothesize about

Uses "hypothesize" in place of "surmise", suggesting a more scientific approach.

infer regarding

Replaces both "surmise" and "about" with "infer" and "regarding" respectively, changing the construction slightly.

deduce concerning

Uses "deduce" and "concerning" instead of "surmise" and "about".

assume concerning

Uses "assume" and "concerning", expressing a less informed guess.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "surmise about"?

While not strictly incorrect, "surmise about" is less common and can sound awkward. It's often better to use just "surmise" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

What does "surmise" mean?

"Surmise" means to infer or guess something based on incomplete evidence. It's similar to words like "speculate", "conjecture", and "deduce".

Can I use "surmise of" instead of "surmise about"?

No, "surmise of" is not a standard English construction. You should use "surmise" on its own or find an alternative phrase.

What are some alternatives to "surmise about"?

Alternatives include "speculate on", "conjecture about", or simply using "surmise" without "about" depending on the context.