unwarranted assumptions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unwarranted assumptions" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to conclusions or beliefs that are made without sufficient evidence or justification. Example: The journalist's article was heavily criticized for its use of unwarranted assumptions about the political candidate's character and motives.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

This is helpful in detecting missing requirements or unwarranted assumptions about the specification of the system.

Journal of Systems and Software

Weeks later he produced a 190-page report accusing O'Loan of 'inaccuracies, unwarranted assumptions and misunderstandings'.

The Guardian

It said key intelligence reports made unwarranted assumptions and overstated what was then known about Hussein's weapons programs.

The Washington Post

This article argues that these interventions are often based on unwarranted assumptions about the relationship between resources, conflict and governance.

The Extractive Industries and Society

For instance, unwarranted assumptions can be made about the impact of training on operator behaviour in emergency situations.

Reliability Engineering & System Safety

A rank-and-file group called Mrs. O'Loan incompetent, and a police spokesman assailed her report for containing "significant factual inaccuracies, unwarranted assumptions, misunderstandings and material omissions".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

(We seem to be making the unwarranted assumption that Al Qaeda's next attack will again be by plane).

The New York Times

Justice Breyer's unwarranted assumption about the Narragansett's membership, even if true, would therefore also be irrelevant to whether the Secretary's actions were proper.

Cornell University

This relates to an unwarranted assumption in Herring's original derivation, that no interactions occur between the grain boundaries that make up a TJ.

Acta Materialia

That was an unwarranted assumption, Justice Kennedy said, adding, "Even upon the assumption that the government has an interest in substituting itself for informed and empowered parents, its interest is not sufficiently compelling to justify this widespread restriction on speech".

The New York Times

Am I making an unwarranted assumption in thinking that the irresistible chorus of the song "something's cooking in the kitchen tonight" could infer rising temperatures in the bedroom?

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Before drawing conclusions, meticulously examine the evidence supporting your assumptions. Ensure that your assumptions are explicitly stated and logically justified to avoid accusations of relying on "unwarranted assumptions".

Common error

Avoid building arguments on unverified or weakly supported premises. Always challenge your own assumptions and seek corroborating evidence to strengthen your reasoning and avoid making "unwarranted assumptions".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unwarranted assumptions" functions primarily as a critical descriptor, identifying assertions or beliefs that lack adequate justification. It frequently qualifies nouns, highlighting a deficiency in the reasoning or evidence supporting a particular claim. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is grammatically correct and widely employed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis reveals that the phrase "unwarranted assumptions" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, particularly within scientific, news, and formal business contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It serves to critically evaluate claims lacking sufficient evidence and encourage rigorous scrutiny. Understanding the nuances of this phrase and its alternatives, such as "unjustified presumptions" or "baseless inferences", empowers writers to communicate with greater precision and logical clarity. Therefore, always aim to explicitly state and validate any assumptions when writing. By doing so, you avoid the pitfall of "unwarranted assumptions".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unjustified presumptions

Replaces "assumptions" with "presumptions" and "unwarranted" with "unjustified", emphasizing the lack of justification.

baseless inferences

Substitutes "assumptions" with "inferences" and "unwarranted" with "baseless", highlighting the absence of a factual foundation.

unfounded premises

Replaces "assumptions" with "premises" and "unwarranted" with "unfounded", focusing on the lack of a solid base for reasoning.

groundless suppositions

Replaces "assumptions" with "suppositions" and "unwarranted" with "groundless", indicating a complete lack of supporting evidence.

unsubstantiated beliefs

Substitutes "assumptions" with "beliefs" and "unwarranted" with "unsubstantiated", emphasizing the lack of verification or proof.

unproven hypotheses

Replaces "assumptions" with "hypotheses" and "unwarranted" with "unproven", highlighting the absence of empirical validation.

presumptuous conclusions

Replaces "unwarranted" with "presumptuous", focusing on the boldness or arrogance of the conclusions drawn.

ill-founded convictions

Substitutes "assumptions" with "convictions" and "unwarranted" with "ill-founded", indicating a weak or faulty basis for the beliefs.

fallacious premises

Replaces "unwarranted" with "fallacious", highlighting the presence of logical errors in the underlying assumptions.

unexamined biases

Shifts the focus to biases that have not been critically evaluated, implying they may lead to unwarranted assumptions.

FAQs

How can I avoid making "unwarranted assumptions" in my writing?

To avoid making "unwarranted assumptions", clearly state your assumptions, provide evidence to support them, and acknowledge any limitations or potential biases that might influence your conclusions. Critically evaluate your reasoning and be open to revising your assumptions if new information arises.

What's the difference between "unwarranted assumptions" and "unjustified presumptions"?

While both phrases imply a lack of proper basis, "unwarranted assumptions" generally refers to beliefs or conclusions made without sufficient evidence, while "unjustified presumptions" often suggests taking something for granted without adequate reason or validation.

When is it acceptable to make assumptions, and when are they considered "unwarranted assumptions"?

Making assumptions is acceptable when based on reasonable evidence or established knowledge, but these should be explicitly acknowledged. They become "unwarranted assumptions" when made without sufficient evidence, logical reasoning, or when contradicting available information.

What are some alternatives to saying "unwarranted assumptions"?

You can use alternatives like "baseless inferences", "unfounded premises", or "groundless suppositions" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.