tentative hypothesis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tentative hypothesis" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a preliminary or unconfirmed theory that is subject to further testing or investigation. Example: "Before conducting the experiment, the researchers formulated a tentative hypothesis regarding the relationship between temperature and reaction rate."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

His tentative hypothesis was that it was astronomical — "not the sun, directly, but something beyond the earth — either inside or outside our solar system".

The New Yorker

One paragraph, for instance, calls out "jarring" inaccuracies, then cites, by way of example, a tentative hypothesis that Grigoriadis submits concerning gender dynamics and a couple of anecdotal sentences about when people do and do not use the word "bitch".

The New Yorker

Scientists, it seemed clear, began with careful observations, cautiously proceeded to a tentative hypothesis, progressed to more secure but still provisional theories, and only in the end achieved, after a long process of verification, the security of permanent laws.

The New Yorker

In this deductive procedure conclusions are inferred from a tentative hypothesis.

SEP

The aim of this paper is to formulate a tentative hypothesis designed to unify the clinical, anatomo-physiological, and genetic aspects underlying this condition.

Sleep Medicine

In Algorithm 1, h t (I j ) is the tentative hypothesis (output of weak classifier) made at the t-th round for the j-th training datum I j.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Still, Mr. Jonas concluded, "he has fashioned an intellectual puzzle, pure and simple, with a wonderfully clever solution that blew my own tentative hypotheses sky-high".

The New York Times - Books

By Hendrik Hertzberg March 11, 2009 The Presidential: * Obama/Biden: 69,456,898 (52.87%) * McCain/Palin: 59,934,814 (45.62%) * Others: About 2 millionThe Congressional: * Democratic: 65,203,062 (54.0%) * Republican : 52,290,917 (43.3%) * Others: About 3 millionThese figures don't yield a whole lot of fine-grained conclusions, but they do suggest a few tentative hypotheses: 1.

The New Yorker

The final classification is made by integrating tentative hypotheses H x) as in Eq. (3).

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Our study draws some tentative hypotheses that are conditioned, in any case, by its exploratory and correlational nature.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

In these situations, the simultaneous exploration of the new phenomena and articulation of the tentative hypotheses together bring about discovery.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tentative hypothesis" to introduce an idea that is based on initial observations but requires rigorous testing and evidence before being accepted as a theory.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "tentative hypothesis" as a confirmed fact or conclusion. Emphasize its preliminary nature and the need for further investigation to prevent misleading interpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tentative hypothesis" functions as a noun phrase used to introduce a preliminary explanation or proposition that requires further investigation and testing. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's often found in contexts where scientists or researchers are discussing early-stage findings.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Unknown

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tentative hypothesis" is a common and grammatically sound way to introduce a preliminary explanation that needs further validation. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently used in scientific and academic contexts, but also appears in news and media when discussing developing research or theories. When using "tentative hypothesis", it's crucial to emphasize the need for further investigation and avoid presenting it as a confirmed conclusion. Alternative phrases such as "provisional theory" or "preliminary assumption" can be used to convey similar meanings, while clearly stating limitations when used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provisional theory

Focuses on the theoretical nature of the explanation being provisional.

preliminary assumption

Emphasizes the assumption aspect as being in a preliminary stage.

working model

Highlights the practical, testable nature of the hypothesis as a model.

initial conjecture

Stresses the speculative and early-stage aspect of the hypothesis.

exploratory proposition

Highlights the exploratory nature and the act of proposing an idea.

speculative explanation

Emphasizes the speculative and unproven nature of the explanation.

undeveloped concept

Focuses on the lack of full development and detailing of the concept.

early supposition

Highlights that the idea is based on an early, possibly incomplete, understanding.

proposed explanation

Highlights that the explanation is put forward for consideration but not yet validated.

suggested framework

Focuses on the framework being a suggestion that needs to be built upon.

FAQs

What is the difference between a "tentative hypothesis" and a theory?

A "tentative hypothesis" is a preliminary explanation that needs testing, while a theory is a well-substantiated explanation acquired through the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation.

How to introduce a "tentative hypothesis" in a research paper?

Begin by stating the observations or data that led to the hypothesis, then clearly label it as "tentative" and emphasize the need for further research to confirm or refute it.

What are some alternatives to "tentative hypothesis"?

You can use alternatives like "provisional theory", "preliminary assumption", or "working model" depending on the specific context and emphasis you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "tentative hypothesis" in formal writing?

Yes, "tentative hypothesis" is appropriate for formal and scientific writing when introducing an idea that requires further validation and is not yet a fully established theory. Ensure that its limitations are clearly stated.