under the notion

USAGE SUMMARY

"under the notion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the idea or understanding of something. For example, "The public works under the notion that taxes will be used to fund more public services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

I think I was operating under the notion that I could rectify the situation.

The New York Times

Pool told me that he started shooting heroin after dropping out of college, operating under the notion — as she put it — that "writers needed conflict and adversity.

The New Yorker

Working under the notion that the best antipoverty strategy is a job, the commission also recommended expanding programs aimed at preparing students for college and giving high school students and adults work experience and job training.

The New York Times

"We couldn't quickly put that list together, but we could make sure that the F.B.I. did not act under the notion that he had no contacts," the source said.

The New Yorker

In a nothing-to-see-here contrast, Democrats are coordinating far more loosely, according to several media operatives on Capitol Hill, under the notion that they expect the law to be upheld.

The New York Times

Washington duly wrote to Clinton, who acknowledged that the hanging was a "barbarous outrage", but argued that "to sacrifice innocence under the notion of preventing guilt…would be adopting barbarity, and raising it to the greatest height".

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Today, living in U.S.A., my adopted country, while my personal world is in unison, I am even more convinced of the need for interfaith understanding, as the external world seems to be tearing apart under the notions of religious strife and senseless violence.

Huffington Post

Reservoir computing fundamental principles have been contextually introduced under the notions of liquid state machines (LSM; Maass et al. 2002) and echo state networks (ESN; Jaeger 2002).

Biological Cybernetics

But while he compared it to a policy brought in under Margaret Thatcher, the notion of mutualising the public sector has its roots in Labour tradition.

The Guardian

UNDER AGE 8 -- The notion of doing good for others appeals to young children, especially when another child is involved.

The New York Times

He is a holdover from the Patriots' 1996 Super Bowl run under Parcells, but the notion that he is now among the league's elite makes him squirm.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "under the notion" to clearly state the underlying belief or assumption that guides an action or decision.

Common error

Avoid using "under the notion" in very casual conversation; simpler phrases like "thinking" or "believing" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under the notion" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a clause that expresses a reason, justification, or underlying belief for an action or decision. Ludwig's examples confirm its use to indicate the basis for an action or thought.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

42%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "under the notion" is a grammatically sound and widely used prepositional phrase, functioning to introduce a belief or assumption underlying an action or statement. According to Ludwig, it's often found in news and media, scientific writing, and general discourse where explaining the basis for decisions or perspectives is important. While correct, it leans towards a neutral to formal register, so simpler alternatives might be better for casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

based on the understanding

Replaces "notion" with "understanding", focusing on comprehension as the foundation.

premised on the idea

Substitutes "notion" with "idea", emphasizing the conceptual basis.

assuming that

Simplifies the phrase to a direct assumption.

with the understanding that

Adds "with", highlighting the possession of the understanding.

on the assumption that

Replaces "notion" with "assumption", emphasizing the act of presuming.

believing that

Focuses on the act of believing as the basis.

in the belief that

Highlights the belief as the context for action.

taking for granted that

Implies an acceptance without questioning.

presuming that

Focuses on the act of presuming as the starting point.

operating on the principle

Emphasizes a guiding principle rather than a simple belief.

FAQs

How can I use "under the notion" in a sentence?

"Under the notion" introduces an assumption or belief. For example, "They proceeded "under the notion" that more funding would solve the problem."

What's a simpler way to express "under the notion"?

Alternatives include "assuming that", "believing that", or "on the assumption that" depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it always correct to use "under the notion"?

While grammatically correct, "under the notion" can sound formal. In casual conversations, simpler alternatives like "thinking that" might be better.

What's the difference between "under the assumption" and "under the notion"?

While similar, "under the assumption" emphasizes a presumption, while "under the notion" highlights a general belief or idea. "Under the assumption" implies less certainty than stating something "under the notion".