vague assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vague assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a belief or idea that lacks clarity or specificity. Example: "The project's failure was largely due to a vague assumption about the target audience's needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

There is a vague assumption that talking about Mormonism, or talking, in President Obama's case, about Reverend Jeremiah Wright, is like lighting a fuse.

The New Yorker

There was a vague assumption, as Mr Pickles puts it, that the country would "one day wake up and apologise for putting us in opposition".

The Economist

Successful applications begin with a clear and difficult problem to solve instead of a vague assumption that technology will enhance teaching.Second, we usually focus on improving existing teaching systems whereas technology is better used to create new learning systems.

The Economist

Operating on a vague assumption that trippy music and album design go hand in hand with smoking vast quantities of prime, sticky Adelaide hydro, I asked some stoner buddies if they minded submitting themselves to the last five major Wolf Eyes releases, and passing criticism on the artwork and sounds.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In any case, experts say that objections to transsexual inclusion arise less from physiological questions than from vague assumptions of what is natural and what is artificial when it comes to the human body.

The New York Times

But, as my colleague Polly Curtis has found today with her excellent Reality Check, the strict economic arguments are all built on far from solid ground, with vague assumptions about the value of time spent on trains, road decongestion and network reliability.

The Guardian - Business

When skepticism based purely on vague assumptions leads to premature conclusions, it becomes blind cynicism.

TechCrunch

What's exhilirating is that the vague assumptions, arrogant exploits, twinkling of an ephemeral joke, they all are being ratified in a swirl of innovation that is dazzling in its ability to masquerade as superficial and childish.

TechCrunch

Arbitrarily fixing s1 and s3 with s1 < s3 the closure of an explicit definition is reflected by the choice of s2 with the restriction of s1 ≤ s2 ≤ s3 ; see Section 2.4 and Appendix B. Explicit definitions, so to speak, implicitly make some (though quite vague) assumptions on the type of underlying disease structure.

Bioinformatics and Biology Insights

Quite the contrary, there has always been a vaguely Confucian assumption of patriarchal infallibility.

The New Yorker

The crux of his account of religion's distinctiveness seems to be the vaguely Tolstoyan assumption that insofar as individuals are moral, they are alike, but that every individual is immoral in his or her own way.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "vague assumption", ensure that you clarify what makes the assumption vague to avoid confusion. Provide specific details or examples to illustrate the lack of clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "vague assumption" as a placeholder for deeper analysis. If an assumption is truly vague, investigate its origins and potential impacts rather than simply labeling it as such.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vague assumption" functions as a noun phrase, where "vague" modifies the noun "assumption". It typically describes a proposition or belief that lacks clarity or detail. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vague assumption" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that refers to an unclear or ill-defined premise. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's important to clarify the vagueness to avoid confusion. While it appears across various contexts, it is most prevalent in News & Media and Science. Related phrases include "unclear presumption" and "tenuous hypothesis", each offering a slightly different shade of meaning. When employing this phrase, remember to provide sufficient context and avoid using it as a substitute for critical analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unclear presumption

Replaces 'vague' with 'unclear', focusing on the lack of clarity in the assumption.

imprecise supposition

Emphasizes the lack of precision in the assumed idea.

uncertain premise

Highlights the uncertainty associated with the foundational statement.

tenuous hypothesis

Substitutes 'assumption' with 'hypothesis' implying a more formal proposition that's weakly supported.

ill-defined belief

Focuses on how poorly defined the belief at hand is.

dubious presupposition

Uses 'dubious' to highlight the questionable nature of the underlying belief.

speculative conjecture

Highlights the speculative nature and lack of evidence supporting the assumption.

nebulous expectation

Replaces 'assumption' with 'expectation', indicating a less concrete belief about the future.

loose inference

The substitution of 'assumption' for 'inference' suggests a conclusion that's weakly supported by evidence or reasoning.

fuzzy notion

Replaces "assumption" with "notion" indicating a less concrete concept.

FAQs

How can I use "vague assumption" in a sentence?

You can use "vague assumption" to describe a premise or belief that lacks clarity or specificity. For example: "The project's failure was largely due to a vague assumption about the target audience's needs."

What can I say instead of "vague assumption"?

You can use alternatives like "unclear presumption", "tenuous hypothesis", or "dubious presupposition" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "vague assumption" or "unsubstantiated claim"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of certainty, "vague assumption" suggests a lack of clarity, whereas "unsubstantiated claim" implies a lack of evidence. Choose the phrase that best reflects the reason for the weakness in the statement.

What's the difference between a "vague assumption" and a "general assumption"?

A "vague assumption" lacks specific details, making it unclear. A "general assumption", while broad, might still be clear in its overall meaning. For example, assuming "people generally want to be happy" is a general assumption; assuming "the product will resonate with everyone" is a vague assumption.