Meaning & use
theoretical assumptions
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Meanings
nounplural
Beliefs or ideas that are accepted as true without proof and on which a theory or argument is based.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun; the singular form is 'a theoretical assumption'.
Patterns
- theoretical assumptions about something
- based on theoretical assumptions
- make theoretical assumptions
The study's conclusions rest on several theoretical assumptions about how people behave.
Before we can test the model, we need to state our theoretical assumptions clearly.
Her argument challenges the theoretical assumptions that most economists accept.
nounplural
A set of ideas that a person treats as true in a particular situation, even if they are not proven.
Grammar: Often used with 'about' to introduce the area of the assumptions.
Patterns
- theoretical assumptions about something
- question someone's theoretical assumptions
Teachers sometimes make theoretical assumptions about what students already know.
The debate revealed deep theoretical assumptions about the purpose of education.
Word forms
| singular | theoretical assumption |
|---|
Common combinations
- underlying theoretical assumptions
- The paper examines the underlying theoretical assumptions of the model.
- challenge theoretical assumptions
- New evidence can challenge long-held theoretical assumptions.
- state theoretical assumptions
- Good research papers state their theoretical assumptions at the beginning.
- based on theoretical assumptions
- The prediction is based on theoretical assumptions, not on experiments.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hypotheses
- Hypotheses are ideas that are suggested and then tested; theoretical assumptions are ideas taken as a starting point without testing.
- premises
- Premises are the statements that an argument starts from; theoretical assumptions are the broader beliefs behind a theory.
- presuppositions
- Presuppositions are things you assume without stating them; theoretical assumptions are usually stated openly in academic work.
Word family
- theoretical adjective
- Connected with ideas rather than practical experience.
- assumption noun
- Something you accept as true without proof.
- assume verb
- To think something is true without checking.
Commonly confused: theoretical assumptions or theoretical? theoretical assumptions or hypothetical?
theoretical assumptions vs theoretical
This is an adjective meaning 'based on ideas'; 'theoretical assumptions' is a noun phrase.
theoretical assumptions vs hypothetical
Hypothetical describes something imagined for discussion; theoretical describes something based on a theory.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'theoretical assumptions' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is plural and does not need 'a': 'made theoretical assumptions'. Option 3 is wrong because 'assumption' needs a plural or an article. Option 4 is singular and would be correct only with 'a' ('made a theoretical assumption').
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “theoretical assumptions”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.