that presupposes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that presupposes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing assumptions or conditions that are taken for granted in an argument or statement. Example: "The theory is based on a premise that presupposes the existence of certain variables."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But that presupposes some minimal level of insight and meaning.

The New York Times

Failing French entrepreneurs are hounded by a legal system that presupposes foul play in all bankruptcies, raising significant barriers to the creation of new enterprises and jobs.

The New York Times

Talking up the Scots Nats and how they would interact with a Miliband minority government is a line of attack that presupposes the Tories have lost.

The Guardian - Opinion

If you have that as a standard, then that presupposes that global temperatures have risen over the past century, and, of course, there's debate about that".

The New Yorker

Cross-party parliamentary committees are becoming more aggressive, but in a system that presupposes ministers are also MPs, the constitutional checks on their power are not good enough.

Independent

In "The Market Revolution Ate My Homework," a thoughtful essay published in Reviews in American History in 1997, the historian Daniel Feller observed that "a monograph that presupposes a market revolution will certainly discover one".

The New Yorker

"A search for evidence of dissonance between the two leaders is either the forlorn hope of western-leaning liberals... or a legacy of 'Kremlinology' that presupposes inter-leadership conflict as the sine qua non of Russian politics," Rubin said.

The Guardian

Trust is between the coach and the last man standing, and that presupposes that the goalie has the style, the personality and the authority that defenders in front of him also like and trust.

The New York Times - Sports

"The 130 billion euros is a strong signal," French President Francois Hollande said at the news conference following the private meeting, and is part of "a road map that presupposes fiscal and banking union".

The New York Times

The title of the hearing was, "How Obama's Green Energy Agenda is Killing Jobs," a title that one Democratic member, Mike Quigley, Democrat of Illinois, complained was a "raw partisan assertion that presupposes the answer".

The New York Times - Science

Nonliterate societies cannot have monastic institutions, because the monastic responds to an established written body of religious doctrine, which has undergone criticism and then generated countercriticism in a dialectic process that presupposes a literate, codified manipulation of the doctrine.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that presupposes", ensure the assumption you are highlighting is clear and directly relevant to the context. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "that presupposes" when the assumption is not widely accepted or requires further justification. Failing to provide supporting evidence can weaken your statement and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that presupposes" functions as a relative clause, introducing a condition or assumption that is essential for the main clause to be valid. It is used to highlight underlying premises, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that presupposes" functions as a relative clause used to highlight essential underlying assumptions, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is grammatically correct and commonly used in both formal and neutral contexts, particularly in scientific, news, and encyclopedic sources. While "that presupposes" is versatile, it is crucial to ensure that the presupposition is clear and justified to maintain credibility. Consider alternatives like "that assumes" for simpler phrasing, and avoid using it when the assumption is unsupported. Ludwig AI indicates its widespread use across various reliable sources, making it a valuable tool for precise and logical communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that assumes

Focuses on the act of taking something for granted without necessarily implying a prior condition.

that takes for granted

Emphasizes the act of accepting something without questioning or considering it.

that postulates

Suggests a more formal and theoretical assumption, often used in academic or scientific contexts.

that presumes

Similar to "that presupposes" but can also imply a legal or formal assumption.

that relies on

Highlights the dependence on a specific condition or factor.

that is predicated on

Indicates that something is based or founded on a particular condition.

that hinges on

Suggests that the outcome or validity depends on a specific condition.

that is contingent on

Emphasizes the dependence of something on an uncertain future event or condition.

that is conditional on

Highlights the explicit condition that must be met for something to be true or valid.

that supposes

Implies a belief or assumption, often without strong evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "that presupposes" in a sentence?

The phrase "that presupposes" is used to indicate an underlying assumption or condition. For example, "The argument that presupposes a stable economy may not hold true during a recession".

What's a simple alternative to "that presupposes"?

A simpler alternative to "that presupposes" is "that assumes". Both phrases indicate an underlying assumption, but "that assumes" is less formal.

How does "that presupposes" differ from "that implies"?

"That presupposes" indicates a necessary precondition or assumption, while "that implies" suggests a logical consequence or indirect suggestion. For instance, "The policy that presupposes public compliance may fail if not enforced" versus "The statement that implies support for the policy is not an official endorsement".

Is "that presupposes" formal or informal?

"That presupposes" is suitable for formal writing. For a less formal alternative, consider using "that assumes" or "takes for granted".