trying to guess

USAGE SUMMARY

"trying to guess" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an effort made by someone to figure something out. For example: "The students spent an hour trying to guess what the teacher's surprise was."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were just trying to guess".

The New Yorker

The first comes from trying to guess who killed him.

The New York Times - Books

Lynette is trying to guess; we're allowed to know.

The New Yorker

They crowd around it, trying to guess who everyone is.

The Guardian - Arts

"There's no trying to guess what we're trying to accomplish.

The New York Times - Sports

Everyone trying to guess what everyone else is seeing".

The New York Times

Trying to guess the direction of this country has, in the past, been a fool's errand.

The New York Times

Some of the girls glanced around, trying to guess the author of the note.

The New Yorker

You can't stop yourself from trying to guess how that's even possible.

The New York Times - Tech

Employees do not like unexplained surprises or trying to guess what your plan is.

The New York Times

That has not stopped policy wonks from trying to guess what they were.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trying to guess" when you want to convey an attempt to figure something out with limited information. For example, "Instead of stating assumptions as facts, acknowledge you are merely "trying to guess" the outcome."

Common error

Be cautious about presenting a "guess" as a certainty. Qualify statements with phrases like "it seems", "it's possible", or "one might speculate" to reflect the uncertainty inherent in "trying to guess".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trying to guess" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun within a sentence. It often serves as the subject or part of the predicate, describing an action or activity. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "trying to guess" is a grammatically correct and very common gerund phrase used to describe an attempt to figure something out with limited information. According to Ludwig AI, it is perfectly acceptable in written English. While versatile and suitable for various contexts, it appears most frequently in news and media. When employing this phrase, be mindful of the potential for overstating confidence and adjust the register based on the context. For more formal settings, consider alternatives such as "attempting to ascertain" or "endeavoring to deduce". Overall, "trying to guess" is a valuable addition to your linguistic toolkit, provided it is used judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempting to predict

Focuses more directly on foretelling future events, adding a temporal dimension.

endeavoring to ascertain

Emphasizes a serious or determined effort to find something out, suggesting a more formal approach.

seeking to deduce

Highlights the use of reasoning and inference to arrive at a conclusion.

aiming to discern

Suggests a careful effort to distinguish or recognize something that is not immediately obvious.

working to infer

Places emphasis on drawing conclusions from evidence and reasoning.

speculating about

Highlights the act of forming theories or conjectures without firm evidence.

conjecturing on

Similar to speculating, but may imply a more formal or academic setting.

presuming to estimate

Involves making a rough calculation or judgment, often when precise data is lacking.

venture to surmise

Suggests a hesitant or cautious attempt to form an opinion or belief about something.

having a stab at guessing

Indicates an informal attempt or try, often implying a low chance of success.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "trying to guess" in a formal context?

In a formal context, consider using phrases such as "attempting to ascertain", "endeavoring to deduce", or "seeking to discern" to convey a more serious or determined effort.

What's a more casual alternative to "trying to guess"?

For a more casual alternative, you might use "having a stab at guessing" or "taking a shot in the dark", depending on the context.

Is it ever inappropriate to use "trying to guess"?

While "trying to guess" is generally acceptable, avoid using it in situations where precision or accuracy is crucial. In such cases, opt for more precise language that reflects careful analysis and evidence-based reasoning.

How does "trying to guess" differ from "trying to predict"?

"Trying to guess" implies a less structured approach with minimal information, while "trying to predict" often suggests a more systematic attempt to foresee future events based on available data or trends.