surmises

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surmises" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of forming an opinion or conclusion based on incomplete information or evidence. Example: "Based on the evidence presented, she surmises that the project will be completed ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Oaklander surmises that itch evolved as a way for humans instinctively to rid themselves of dangerous insects.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

People had come to accept that French companies could no longer compete on their own in mass carmaking, he says (and one surmises that no one much cares about cement).

The Economist

If bad things are happening to plants, he surmises, that is a reason for pre-emptive animal action.

The Economist

By giving Messrs Bertinotti and Berlusconi a boost, they may, he surmises, make it harder to produce a revised constitution, the task with which he has been entrusted as chairman of a parliamentary commission known as the bicamerale.

The Economist

It was, Mr Lewis surmises, the defeat in 1918 of the Ottoman sultanate to which Mr bin Laden was referring in the famous post-September 11th videotape lamenting Islam's 80-year-old "humiliation and disgrace".In this section Biting at the future The Utopian tendency How many bin Ladens?

The Economist

This, Mr Campbell surmises, hardened her heart, strengthening her lifelong view of herself as an outsider who would eventually get even.

The Economist

A resident of Timbuktu surmises that Ansar Dine has cosied up to al- Qaeda because it needed the money.

The Economist

"I guess they wanted to do their own thing, " Mr Meier surmises.

The Economist

Mr MacDorman wants to do more tests, but he surmises that the discomfort many Japanese feel when dealing with other people has something to do with his results, and that they are much more at ease when talking to an android.Eventually, interactive robots are going to become more common, not just in Japan but in other rich countries as well.

The Economist

Some heroes of the Prague Spring in 1968 had been enthusiastic backers of the Stalinist regime's murderous purges after the communist putsch of 1948.Mr Hradilek surmises that Mr Kundera probably acted out of self-interest, not malice or conviction.

The Economist

If he did, one surmises he had political or ethical motivations as well.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surmises" when you want to express an educated guess or inference based on limited evidence. It suggests a thoughtful consideration of available information.

Common error

Avoid using "surmises" when you have concrete evidence or proof. This word implies uncertainty and should not be used to present factual information.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "surmises" is as a plural noun. It represents multiple instances of forming an opinion or making a conjecture based on incomplete information. As Ludwig AI confirms, the usage of "surmises" is acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surmises" functions as a plural noun used to express conjectures or educated guesses based on limited evidence. Ludwig confirms that the usage of "surmises" is correct and acceptable in written English. It is most frequently found in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts, reflecting a neutral to formal register. When using "surmises", it's important to convey uncertainty rather than presenting definitive facts. For alternative expressions, consider words such as "speculates", "conjectures", or "hypothesizes".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conjectures

This term also refers to forming an opinion or conclusion based on incomplete information, similar to surmises.

speculates

Focuses more on theoretical possibilities and less on direct evidence than "surmises".

hypothesizes

This is often used in scientific contexts to suggest a tentative explanation for a phenomenon.

infers

Implies drawing a conclusion based on reasoning and evidence, making it a more logical process.

theorizes

Develops a theory about something, which is a more structured and detailed form of surmise.

guesses

Suggests a less informed opinion, often based on intuition rather than evidence.

deduces

Involves arriving at a conclusion by logical deduction, often from established facts.

presumes

Implies that something is likely true based on probability or previous experience.

postulates

Proposes something as a basis for reasoning, often in theoretical or mathematical contexts.

assumes

Suggests taking something for granted without proof, which is a weaker form of conjecture.

FAQs

How to use "surmises" in a sentence?

You can use "surmises" to indicate a conclusion or opinion that is formed based on incomplete or suggestive evidence. For example, "Based on the data, the analyst surmises that the company's profits will increase."

What can I say instead of "surmises"?

You can use alternatives like "speculates", "conjectures", or "hypothesizes" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "surmises" or "guesses"?

"Surmises" implies a more thoughtful and informed opinion than "guesses", which suggests a less informed opinion.

What's the difference between "surmises" and "infers"?

"Surmises" suggests forming an opinion with incomplete evidence, while "infers" implies drawing a conclusion from reasoning and available data.