which supposes that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which supposes that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when introducing a clause that indicates a condition or assumption related to a preceding statement. Example: "The theory is based on a premise which supposes that all variables remain constant throughout the experiment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

All of which supposes that Stockton wants to reject the contract and leave Calpers.

The New York Times

His piece takes its name from the concept of quantum superposition, which supposes that matter in the subatomic world can exist in two states simultaneously (wave, particle) until it is measured by an instrument, forcing it to take only one form.

Vice

It is common for example to find bizzare theories repeated, such as 'pleomorphism' p68, which supposes that harmless bacteria can become disease-producing viruses.

British Journal of Cancer

The third hypothesis is mutational bias, which supposes that highly expressed genes tend to localize in chromosomal regions with high deletion rates, or that there is a transcription-associated deletion bias [ 2, 5].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

To qualify for the secondary market, wines must be considered commodities with resale value, which supposes that they possess ageworthiness.

The New York Times

He has tried to reconcile them in the "adaptive markets hypothesis", which supposes that humans are neither fully rational nor psychologically unhinged.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Goldman Sachs's latest calculations, which suppose that American house prices will eventually fall by 25% from their peak, suggest that total losses will reach just over $1.1 trillion.

The Economist

Everything passed through an optimism filter which took only the best assumptions out of every political judgment and created a scenario which supposed that everything was capable of coming good on the day.

The Guardian - Opinion

Based on a new developed kinetics model, which supposed that nucleation and growth of the hydration product of cement takes place randomly on the surface of cement particles, the influence of epoxy resin on the hydration kinetics of cement was analyzed.

Construction and Building Materials

Black thinks the girl is acting out, but Means reveals that she is reciting passages from the non-canonical Gnostic Gospels, which supposed that Mary Magdalene was the only disciple to fully understand the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Wikipedia

A suspected migration route for the Tibetans' ancestors was the so-called "Zang (meaning Tibetan people) - Yi (the Yi people) - Corridor" which supposed that Tibetans first migrated from Qinghai to the Tibetan Plateau and then subsequently spread throughout the surrounding area [7].

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which supposes that", ensure the clause it introduces clearly and logically follows from the preceding statement. This helps maintain clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid overusing "which supposes that" in long, convoluted sentences. Simplify your writing by breaking down complex ideas into shorter, more digestible statements for better readability. Consider using alternatives like "assuming that" or "given that" to improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which supposes that" functions as a relative clause introducing an assumption or belief upon which a previous statement relies. Ludwig provides examples illustrating its use in academic, news, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which supposes that" is a relative clause introducing an assumption or belief. It's grammatically correct, commonly used, and particularly prevalent in formal and scientific writing. Ludwig's analysis indicates that while the phrase is appropriate, writers should ensure it logically connects to the preceding statement for clarity. Alternatives such as "which assumes that" or "which posits that" can offer subtle variations in meaning. The phrase is frequently found in scientific and news contexts, making it a versatile addition to one's writing toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which assumes that

Replaces "supposes" with the more common "assumes", suggesting a basis for belief without necessarily implying proof.

which posits that

Substitutes "supposes" with "posits", implying the statement is being put forward as a fact or basis for reasoning.

which hypothesizes that

Replaces "supposes" with "hypothesizes", framing the statement as a testable explanation for a phenomenon.

which presumes that

Uses "presumes" instead of "supposes", indicating that the statement is taken as true until proven otherwise.

which suggests that

Employs "suggests" instead of "supposes", implying a less definitive connection and opening the possibility of alternatives.

which implies that

Uses "implies" instead of "supposes", indicating that the statement is a logical consequence or inference from something else.

which understands that

Replaces "supposes" with "understands", focusing on a comprehension or interpretation of a situation.

which takes for granted that

Substitutes "supposes" with "takes for granted", suggesting that the statement is treated as true without questioning.

which operates under the assumption that

Replaces "supposes" with a longer phrase, "operates under the assumption", adding emphasis to the role of the assumption.

which is predicated on the idea that

Replaces "supposes" with a more formal phrase, "is predicated on the idea", framing the statement as the foundation for a theory or argument.

FAQs

What does "which supposes that" mean?

The phrase "which supposes that" introduces a clause that presents an assumption, hypothesis, or condition related to a preceding statement. It suggests something is believed to be true or likely, forming a basis for further reasoning or explanation.

When is it appropriate to use "which supposes that"?

Use "which supposes that" when you want to introduce an idea or assumption that logically follows from a previous statement and forms a foundation for further discussion or analysis. For example, "The model is based on a principle "which supposes that" consumers always act rationally."

What are some alternatives to "which supposes that"?

You can use alternatives such as "which assumes that", "which posits that", or "which suggests that" depending on the nuance you want to convey. Each of these offers a slightly different shade of meaning in terms of certainty and implication.

Is "which supposes that" formal or informal language?

"Which supposes that" is suitable for formal and academic writing. In more informal contexts, you might prefer simpler alternatives such as "which assumes that" or restructuring the sentence for greater clarity and conciseness.