unreasonable assumptions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unreasonable assumptions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing beliefs or conclusions that are not based on sound reasoning or evidence. Example: "The project's failure can be attributed to the team's reliance on unreasonable assumptions about market demand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

To make matters worse, the conclusions expressed in this year's Medicare report were, to our minds, based on unreasonable assumptions that produced unrealistic and misleading results.

The New York Times

The Medicare agency contends that it does not have the legal authority to force insurers to return money to beneficiaries or to the Medicare trust fund when auditors find "errors, incorrect or unreasonable assumptions or other misstatements" in company bids.

The New York Times - Health

Thus, these burst construction solutions make unreasonable assumptions and do not comply with the IEEE 802.16 specifications.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The long-accepted subdivision of the double layer at the metal electrolyte interface into compact and diffuse regions, resulting in Grahame's construction of a concentration-independent compact layer capacity, is shown to be a consequence of certain unreasonable assumptions and approximations.

Electrochimica Acta

We think that we can mix negative beliefs, unreasonable assumptions and positive seeds together and produce a great harvest.

Huffington Post

As you'll see, the environmental review makes a number of unreasonable assumptions and in many cases, ignores its own analysis to craft its conclusion that Keystone XL is unlikely to impact tar sands expansion.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

This is not an unreasonable assumption.

The Economist

It is not an unreasonable assumption.

The Guardian - Music

"Yeah, ah, that's not an unreasonable assumption".

The Guardian - Books

"And that does seem to have been an unreasonable assumption".

The New York Times

When a child sees the girlfriend in a picture frame on his desk, she asks, "Is that your maid?" It was not an unreasonable assumption.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing models or predictions, specify the "unreasonable assumptions" driving the flawed outcome to strengthen your critique. For instance, state that "the economic model's projections were based on "unreasonable assumptions" about consumer spending" instead of just saying "the model was wrong".

Common error

Avoid attributing the failure of an entire project or system solely to "unreasonable assumptions". Acknowledge other contributing factors like poor execution or unforeseen events to present a more nuanced and credible analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unreasonable assumptions" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It is used to identify and critique underlying premises that are deemed illogical, unsupported, or unrealistic. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unreasonable assumptions" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term that serves to highlight flawed or unsupported premises in arguments, models, or plans. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase follows standard grammar rules. It appears most frequently in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to provide specific examples of the "unreasonable assumptions" to strengthen your critique and avoid overgeneralizing their impact. Considering alternatives like "unjustified premises" or "flawed presuppositions" can add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unjustified premises

Emphasizes the lack of justification or valid basis for the assumptions.

flawed presuppositions

Focuses on the inherent defects or errors within the underlying beliefs.

invalid hypotheses

Highlights the logical invalidity or unsoundness of the proposed ideas.

unfounded expectations

Shifts the focus to anticipations that lack a realistic or factual foundation.

baseless presumptions

Underscores the absence of any factual basis or evidence for the presumptions.

questionable deductions

Implicates the doubtfulness and uncertainty of the deductive reasoning process.

dubious inferences

Highlights the uncertainty and suspicion surrounding the conclusions drawn.

tenuous arguments

Focuses on the weakness and fragility of the presented justifications.

illogical conclusions

Stresses the lack of logical connection or coherence in the derived results.

fallacious reasoning

Indicates the presence of errors and deceptive arguments in the thinking process.

FAQs

How can I identify "unreasonable assumptions" in a research paper?

Look for statements that lack supporting evidence, contradict established knowledge, or are overly optimistic or pessimistic without justification. Examine the methodology and data used to determine if the "assumptions" made align with the findings.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "unreasonable assumptions"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "unjustified premises", "flawed presuppositions", or "invalid hypotheses". These alternatives offer slightly different nuances in meaning.

When is it appropriate to use the term "unreasonable assumptions" in a professional setting?

It's appropriate when critiquing a plan, model, or argument where the underlying "assumptions" are not supported by evidence or logic. Use it to clearly articulate why you believe the approach is flawed.

What is the difference between "unreasonable assumptions" and "incorrect assumptions"?

"Unreasonable assumptions" suggests that the "assumptions" were flawed from the outset due to a lack of justification or logic. "Incorrect assumptions" simply means that the "assumptions" turned out to be wrong, regardless of their initial reasonableness.