would judge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would judge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a hypothetical situation or opinion about someone's actions or character. Example: "If I were in her position, I would judge the situation based on the available evidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The eye that would judge.

The New York Times

Who would judge such a contest?

The New York Times

No one indicated they would judge by body language alone.

Princeton University

Spalding always thought about how an audience would judge him.

The New York Times

"I never, ever would judge anyone," she insists.

The Guardian

"I hope that I would judge it on merit.

The Guardian - Sport

A place where no one would judge or misunderstand me.

The Guardian

The market, she said, would judge the rest.

The New York Times

Revenge: This was the custom of the peasants, and they would judge themselves.

Columbia University

He worried about what people thought of him and feared his community would judge him.

The New York Times

I assumed the reader would judge the situation immediately; this is, after all, illegal conduct.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "would evaluate" or "might assess" when aiming for a more formal or objective tone.

Common error

While "would judge" is acceptable, avoid using it excessively in formal contexts. Opt for stronger verbs like "evaluate", "assess", or "determine" to convey a more authoritative stance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would judge" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a conditional or hypothetical assessment. It combines the modal verb 'would' with the base form of the verb 'judge' to indicate a potential or imagined action, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would judge" is a grammatically correct and very common modal verb phrase used to express hypothetical or conditional assessments. As supported by Ludwig, it is appropriate for neutral to formal contexts such as news, academia and science. When aiming for a more authoritative tone, consider using synonyms like "evaluate" or "determine". Overall, according to Ludwig, the phrase is reliable and widely applicable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would evaluate

A direct synonym, simply replaces 'judge' with 'evaluate'.

might assess

Replaces 'judge' with 'assess', implying a more formal evaluation.

could evaluate

Substitutes 'judge' with 'evaluate', suggesting a detailed analysis.

may consider

Replaces 'judge' with 'consider', indicating a thoughtful review without a definitive judgment.

might determine

Uses 'determine' instead of 'judge', suggesting a more definitive conclusion.

could conclude

Employs 'conclude' to imply reaching a final judgment or decision.

may form an opinion

Replaces the direct action of 'judge' with the formation of an opinion.

might see

Suggests a perspective or point of view, rather than a direct judgment.

would estimate

Replaces 'judge' with 'estimate', implying an approximation or assessment.

may believe

Focuses on personal belief or perspective, rather than objective judgment.

FAQs

How can I use "would judge" in a sentence?

You can use "would judge" to express a hypothetical assessment, as in "If I were the reviewer, I "would judge" the film based on its originality".

What are some alternatives to "would judge"?

Alternatives include "might assess", "could evaluate", or "may consider", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "would judge" formal or informal?

"Would judge" is generally neutral in tone, suitable for both informal and many formal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, consider stronger verbs like "evaluate" or "determine".

What's the difference between "would judge" and "will judge"?

"Would judge" implies a hypothetical or conditional scenario, while "will judge" indicates a future certainty. For example, "The committee will judge the entries next week" suggests a confirmed event, whereas "The committee "would judge" the entries differently if new evidence emerged" describes a hypothetical situation.