the likeliest hypothesis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the likeliest hypothesis" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the most probable explanation or theory in a given context, often in scientific or analytical discussions. Example: "After reviewing all the evidence, the likeliest hypothesis is that the phenomenon is caused by environmental factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

On the basis of our results we consider that a direct interaction is the likeliest hypothesis, but a fuller analysis is beyond the scope of this paper.

eLife

Ibe is particularly powerful in science as justifying inferences from observational surprises or puzzles to the existence of theoretical entities to explain them e.g., to explain why ice floats on water by appeal to hydrogen bonding (Lipton 2004 on the difference between inference to the loveliest and inference to the likeliest hypothesis).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The likely hypotheses being forwarded include the differential exposures [ 26], the role of cell-mediated immunity [ 27] and immune epitopes or genetic differences [ 6].

BMC Infectious Diseases

A subject's strategy can be strictly inferential (i.e. no redundant tests), in which case it is automatically optimal, subjects could systematically attempt to refute the apparently likeliest hypothesis (Popperian strategy) or, as happens often in reality, they may try to confirm those abnormal findings that support their currently favorite hypothesis.

BMC Medical Education

Thus, it appears that the scavenging of prostanoid precursors by the parasite from the host was the most likely hypothesis for the observed effects.

Plosone

The final track of the object is the most likely hypothesis over the time period.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The Bauers thought the most likely hypothesis for the use of this rather upper class term from the UK, was that it derived from books and stories about UK public schools.

Wikipedia

In our case, translocation seems the most likely hypothesis; the tip of the CVC was sterile, and cultures from different sites (bronchial secretions, peritoneal fluids, and urine) were all negative.

Critical Care

Two phylogenetic hypotheses were found to be significantly more likely than the others: the most likely hypothesis placed Aquificales as a neighbour to Thermotogales, and the second one placed Aquificales with epsilon-Proteobacteria.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Among these genes, two phylogenetic hypotheses were found to be significantly more likely than the others: the most likely hypothesis placed Aquificales as a neighbour to Thermotogales, and the second one with epsilon-Proteobacteria.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

This test pointed to the tree of figure 1 as the most likely hypothesis for the position of mAng1 (for example, this tree minimizes the log-likelihood value of the tree) given our alignments (data not shown).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the likeliest hypothesis" when presenting a conclusion based on available evidence, especially in formal writing, where precision and clarity are valued.

Common error

Avoid presenting "the likeliest hypothesis" as an absolute truth. Acknowledge the possibility of alternative explanations and the potential for new evidence to change the conclusion.

Linguistic Context

The likeliest hypothesis functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or direct object in a sentence. It identifies the explanation or theory that is considered most probable based on available evidence. As Ludwig AI shows, it's used to present a well-reasoned conclusion.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the likeliest hypothesis" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote the most probable explanation or theory in a given context. As Ludwig AI confirms, it finds its primary application in formal and scientific writing, where precision and evidence-based reasoning are paramount. While examples are relatively rare, the phrase conveys a sense of informed judgment and is best used when presenting a conclusion based on thorough analysis. When using "the likeliest hypothesis", avoid overstating certainty and always acknowledge the possibility of alternative explanations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the most probable theory

Replaces 'likeliest' with 'most probable', focusing on the probability of the theory.

the most plausible explanation

Substitutes 'hypothesis' with 'explanation' and 'likeliest' with 'most plausible', emphasizing the reasonableness of the explanation.

the leading theory

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise term, indicating the dominant theory.

the most credible assumption

Replaces 'hypothesis' with 'assumption' and 'likeliest' with 'most credible', focusing on the believability of the assumption.

the strongest contender

Uses a metaphorical expression to describe the hypothesis as the most likely option.

the prevailing view

Replaces 'hypothesis' with 'view' and indicates that this view is commonly accepted.

the favored explanation

Emphasizes that the explanation is preferred over others.

the most supported theory

Highlights that the theory has the most evidence backing it.

the working assumption

Indicates that the assumption is being used as a basis for further investigation.

the best bet

Uses an informal expression to suggest the most promising hypothesis.

FAQs

How can I use "the likeliest hypothesis" in a sentence?

You can use "the likeliest hypothesis" to introduce a conclusion that is the most probable explanation based on the available evidence. For example, "After reviewing the data, "the likeliest hypothesis" is that the phenomenon is caused by environmental factors".

What are some alternatives to using "the likeliest hypothesis"?

You can use alternatives like "the most probable theory", "the most plausible explanation", or "the leading theory" depending on the context.

Is "the likeliest hypothesis" formal or informal?

"The likeliest hypothesis" is considered a formal phrase, suitable for academic, scientific, and professional contexts. For more informal settings, you might consider alternatives such as "the best guess".

What's the difference between "the likeliest hypothesis" and "a possible hypothesis"?

"The likeliest hypothesis" suggests that, among several possibilities, one is more probable based on current evidence. "A possible hypothesis", on the other hand, simply indicates that something is a potential explanation, without implying it is the most probable one.