how can i put hypothesis in a sentence

How to Use hypothesis in a Sentence

• The results of the experiment did not support his hypothesis .
• Their hypothesis is that watching excessive amounts of television reduces a person's ability to concentrate.
• Other chemists rejected his hypothesis .

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypothesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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HYPOTHESIS in a Sentence Examples: 21 Ways to Use Hypothesis

Have you ever wondered what a “hypothesis” is and how it fits into the scientific method? A hypothesis is a proposed explanation or educated guess that can be tested through research and experimentation to determine its validity.

In scientific inquiry, a hypothesis serves as the foundation for the study, guiding the direction of the research and helping to form conclusions based on the results. By formulating clear hypotheses, researchers can systematically investigate phenomena and gather evidence to support their claims.

Table of Contents

7 Examples Of Hypothesis Used In a Sentence For Kids

• Hypothesis is a guess we can test.
• We can make a hypothesis about what will happen.
• Our hypothesis will help us learn new things.
• Let’s think of a hypothesis to investigate.
• We can use our hypothesis to solve a problem.
• A good hypothesis can help us understand the world.
• Remember, our hypothesis is just a starting point.

14 Sentences with Hypothesis Examples

• Hypothesis : Students who study for at least 3 hours every day are likely to perform better in their exams.
• It is important for college students to form a hypothesis before conducting any research project.
• Hypothesis : Attending lectures regularly can significantly improve academic performance.
• College students can test their hypothesis through interactive experiments and surveys.
• Hypothesis : Using different study methods can have varied effects on information retention.
• It is necessary for students to critically analyze data to support or reject their hypothesis .
• Hypothesis : Students who engage in extracurricular activities may have a better overall college experience.
• In a scientific study, researchers must clearly define their hypothesis before proceeding with the experiment.
• Hypothesis : Regular exercise can positively impact a student’s mental health and academic performance.
• It is crucial for college students to document their hypothesis and research findings accurately.
• Hypothesis : Students who limit their social media usage may experience improved focus and productivity.
• College projects often require students to brainstorm and formulate a solid hypothesis .
• It is common for students to revise their hypothesis based on new information or research outcomes.
• Hypothesis : Implementing study breaks can enhance retention and understanding of complex subjects.

How To Use Hypothesis in Sentences?

Hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction that can be tested through observation or experimentation. When incorporating this term into a sentence, it is important to clearly identify it so readers can understand its significance.

Here are some tips on how to use hypothesis effectively in a sentence:

Clearly state your hypothesis in a simple and concise manner. For example, “The scientist’s hypothesis is that plants will grow faster with added sunlight.”

Use the word hypothesis to introduce your prediction or expectation before testing it. For instance, “Our hypothesis is that students who study regularly will perform better on the exam.”

Make sure to refer back to your hypothesis when discussing the results of your experiment. For example, “The data supported our initial hypothesis that exercise leads to improved cardiovascular health.”

You can also use the word hypothesis when comparing multiple predictions. For instance, “There are several hypotheses about the cause of the mysterious illness, but more research is needed to determine the correct one.”

By following these guidelines, you can effectively incorporate hypothesis into your writing to communicate your predictions or expectations clearly and accurately.

In conclusion, sentences with the keyword “hypothesis” often express a proposed explanation or prediction that can be tested through research or observation. These sentences play a crucial role in scientific inquiry by guiding investigations and exploring relationships between variables. For example, “The researchers formulated a hypothesis to predict the effect of sunlight on plant growth” demonstrates how hypotheses are used to frame a study’s objectives and outcomes.

Clear and concise sentences with hypotheses are essential for building a solid foundation for scientific exploration and discovery. They provide a starting point for experiments, helping researchers to structure their methodologies and draw meaningful conclusions. By carefully crafting hypotheses, scientists can effectively test their theories, gather evidence, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in various fields.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, what is a hypothesis and how do i write one.

General Education

Think about something strange and unexplainable in your life. Maybe you get a headache right before it rains, or maybe you think your favorite sports team wins when you wear a certain color. If you wanted to see whether these are just coincidences or scientific fact, you would form a hypothesis, then create an experiment to see whether that hypothesis is true or not.

But what is a hypothesis, anyway? If you’re not sure about what a hypothesis is--or how to test for one!--you’re in the right place. This article will teach you everything you need to know about hypotheses, including: 

• Defining the term “hypothesis” 
• Providing hypothesis examples 
• Giving you tips for how to write your own hypothesis

So let’s get started!

What Is a Hypothesis?

Merriam Webster defines a hypothesis as “an assumption or concession made for the sake of argument.” In other words, a hypothesis is an educated guess . Scientists make a reasonable assumption--or a hypothesis--then design an experiment to test whether it’s true or not. Keep in mind that in science, a hypothesis should be testable. You have to be able to design an experiment that tests your hypothesis in order for it to be valid. 

As you could assume from that statement, it’s easy to make a bad hypothesis. But when you’re holding an experiment, it’s even more important that your guesses be good...after all, you’re spending time (and maybe money!) to figure out more about your observation. That’s why we refer to a hypothesis as an educated guess--good hypotheses are based on existing data and research to make them as sound as possible.

Hypotheses are one part of what’s called the scientific method .  Every (good) experiment or study is based in the scientific method. The scientific method gives order and structure to experiments and ensures that interference from scientists or outside influences does not skew the results. It’s important that you understand the concepts of the scientific method before holding your own experiment. Though it may vary among scientists, the scientific method is generally made up of six steps (in order):

• Observation
• Asking questions
• Forming a hypothesis
• Analyze the data
• Communicate your results

You’ll notice that the hypothesis comes pretty early on when conducting an experiment. That’s because experiments work best when they’re trying to answer one specific question. And you can’t conduct an experiment until you know what you’re trying to prove!

Independent and Dependent Variables 

After doing your research, you’re ready for another important step in forming your hypothesis: identifying variables. Variables are basically any factor that could influence the outcome of your experiment . Variables have to be measurable and related to the topic being studied.

There are two types of variables:  independent variables and dependent variables. I ndependent variables remain constant . For example, age is an independent variable; it will stay the same, and researchers can look at different ages to see if it has an effect on the dependent variable. 

Speaking of dependent variables... dependent variables are subject to the influence of the independent variable , meaning that they are not constant. Let’s say you want to test whether a person’s age affects how much sleep they need. In that case, the independent variable is age (like we mentioned above), and the dependent variable is how much sleep a person gets. 

Variables will be crucial in writing your hypothesis. You need to be able to identify which variable is which, as both the independent and dependent variables will be written into your hypothesis. For instance, in a study about exercise, the independent variable might be the speed at which the respondents walk for thirty minutes, and the dependent variable would be their heart rate. In your study and in your hypothesis, you’re trying to understand the relationship between the two variables.

Elements of a Good Hypothesis

The best hypotheses start by asking the right questions . For instance, if you’ve observed that the grass is greener when it rains twice a week, you could ask what kind of grass it is, what elevation it’s at, and if the grass across the street responds to rain in the same way. Any of these questions could become the backbone of experiments to test why the grass gets greener when it rains fairly frequently.

As you’re asking more questions about your first observation, make sure you’re also making more observations . If it doesn’t rain for two weeks and the grass still looks green, that’s an important observation that could influence your hypothesis. You'll continue observing all throughout your experiment, but until the hypothesis is finalized, every observation should be noted.

Finally, you should consult secondary research before writing your hypothesis . Secondary research is comprised of results found and published by other people. You can usually find this information online or at your library. Additionally, m ake sure the research you find is credible and related to your topic. If you’re studying the correlation between rain and grass growth, it would help you to research rain patterns over the past twenty years for your county, published by a local agricultural association. You should also research the types of grass common in your area, the type of grass in your lawn, and whether anyone else has conducted experiments about your hypothesis. Also be sure you’re checking the quality of your research . Research done by a middle school student about what minerals can be found in rainwater would be less useful than an article published by a local university.

Writing Your Hypothesis

Once you’ve considered all of the factors above, you’re ready to start writing your hypothesis. Hypotheses usually take a certain form when they’re written out in a research report.

When you boil down your hypothesis statement, you are writing down your best guess and not the question at hand . This means that your statement should be written as if it is fact already, even though you are simply testing it.

The reason for this is that, after you have completed your study, you'll either accept or reject your if-then or your null hypothesis. All hypothesis testing examples should be measurable and able to be confirmed or denied. You cannot confirm a question, only a statement! 

In fact, you come up with hypothesis examples all the time! For instance, when you guess on the outcome of a basketball game, you don’t say, “Will the Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics?” but instead, “I think the Miami Heat will beat the Boston Celtics.” You state it as if it is already true, even if it turns out you’re wrong. You do the same thing when writing your hypothesis.

Additionally, keep in mind that hypotheses can range from very specific to very broad.  These hypotheses can be specific, but if your hypothesis testing examples involve a broad range of causes and effects, your hypothesis can also be broad.  

The Two Types of Hypotheses

Now that you understand what goes into a hypothesis, it’s time to look more closely at the two most common types of hypothesis: the if-then hypothesis and the null hypothesis.

#1: If-Then Hypotheses

First of all, if-then hypotheses typically follow this formula:

If ____ happens, then ____ will happen.

The goal of this type of hypothesis is to test the causal relationship between the independent and dependent variable. It’s fairly simple, and each hypothesis can vary in how detailed it can be. We create if-then hypotheses all the time with our daily predictions. Here are some examples of hypotheses that use an if-then structure from daily life: 

• If I get enough sleep, I’ll be able to get more work done tomorrow.
• If the bus is on time, I can make it to my friend’s birthday party. 
• If I study every night this week, I’ll get a better grade on my exam. 

In each of these situations, you’re making a guess on how an independent variable (sleep, time, or studying) will affect a dependent variable (the amount of work you can do, making it to a party on time, or getting better grades). 

You may still be asking, “What is an example of a hypothesis used in scientific research?” Take one of the hypothesis examples from a real-world study on whether using technology before bed affects children’s sleep patterns. The hypothesis read s:

“We hypothesized that increased hours of tablet- and phone-based screen time at bedtime would be inversely correlated with sleep quality and child attention.”

It might not look like it, but this is an if-then statement. The researchers basically said, “If children have more screen usage at bedtime, then their quality of sleep and attention will be worse.” The sleep quality and attention are the dependent variables and the screen usage is the independent variable. (Usually, the independent variable comes after the “if” and the dependent variable comes after the “then,” as it is the independent variable that affects the dependent variable.) This is an excellent example of how flexible hypothesis statements can be, as long as the general idea of “if-then” and the independent and dependent variables are present.

#2: Null Hypotheses

Your if-then hypothesis is not the only one needed to complete a successful experiment, however. You also need a null hypothesis to test it against. In its most basic form, the null hypothesis is the opposite of your if-then hypothesis . When you write your null hypothesis, you are writing a hypothesis that suggests that your guess is not true, and that the independent and dependent variables have no relationship .

One null hypothesis for the cell phone and sleep study from the last section might say: 

“If children have more screen usage at bedtime, their quality of sleep and attention will not be worse.” 

In this case, this is a null hypothesis because it’s asking the opposite of the original thesis! 

Conversely, if your if-then hypothesis suggests that your two variables have no relationship, then your null hypothesis would suggest that there is one. So, pretend that there is a study that is asking the question, “Does the amount of followers on Instagram influence how long people spend on the app?” The independent variable is the amount of followers, and the dependent variable is the time spent. But if you, as the researcher, don’t think there is a relationship between the number of followers and time spent, you might write an if-then hypothesis that reads:

“If people have many followers on Instagram, they will not spend more time on the app than people who have less.”

In this case, the if-then suggests there isn’t a relationship between the variables. In that case, one of the null hypothesis examples might say:

“If people have many followers on Instagram, they will spend more time on the app than people who have less.”

You then test both the if-then and the null hypothesis to gauge if there is a relationship between the variables, and if so, how much of a relationship. 

4 Tips to Write the Best Hypothesis

If you’re going to take the time to hold an experiment, whether in school or by yourself, you’re also going to want to take the time to make sure your hypothesis is a good one. The best hypotheses have four major elements in common: plausibility, defined concepts, observability, and general explanation.

#1: Plausibility

At first glance, this quality of a hypothesis might seem obvious. When your hypothesis is plausible, that means it’s possible given what we know about science and general common sense. However, improbable hypotheses are more common than you might think. 

Imagine you’re studying weight gain and television watching habits. If you hypothesize that people who watch more than  twenty hours of television a week will gain two hundred pounds or more over the course of a year, this might be improbable (though it’s potentially possible). Consequently, c ommon sense can tell us the results of the study before the study even begins.

Improbable hypotheses generally go against  science, as well. Take this hypothesis example: 

“If a person smokes one cigarette a day, then they will have lungs just as healthy as the average person’s.” 

This hypothesis is obviously untrue, as studies have shown again and again that cigarettes negatively affect lung health. You must be careful that your hypotheses do not reflect your own personal opinion more than they do scientifically-supported findings. This plausibility points to the necessity of research before the hypothesis is written to make sure that your hypothesis has not already been disproven.

#2: Defined Concepts

The more advanced you are in your studies, the more likely that the terms you’re using in your hypothesis are specific to a limited set of knowledge. One of the hypothesis testing examples might include the readability of printed text in newspapers, where you might use words like “kerning” and “x-height.” Unless your readers have a background in graphic design, it’s likely that they won’t know what you mean by these terms. Thus, it’s important to either write what they mean in the hypothesis itself or in the report before the hypothesis.

Here’s what we mean. Which of the following sentences makes more sense to the common person?

If the kerning is greater than average, more words will be read per minute.

If the space between letters is greater than average, more words will be read per minute.

For people reading your report that are not experts in typography, simply adding a few more words will be helpful in clarifying exactly what the experiment is all about. It’s always a good idea to make your research and findings as accessible as possible. 

Good hypotheses ensure that you can observe the results. 

#3: Observability

In order to measure the truth or falsity of your hypothesis, you must be able to see your variables and the way they interact. For instance, if your hypothesis is that the flight patterns of satellites affect the strength of certain television signals, yet you don’t have a telescope to view the satellites or a television to monitor the signal strength, you cannot properly observe your hypothesis and thus cannot continue your study.

Some variables may seem easy to observe, but if you do not have a system of measurement in place, you cannot observe your hypothesis properly. Here’s an example: if you’re experimenting on the effect of healthy food on overall happiness, but you don’t have a way to monitor and measure what “overall happiness” means, your results will not reflect the truth. Monitoring how often someone smiles for a whole day is not reasonably observable, but having the participants state how happy they feel on a scale of one to ten is more observable. 

In writing your hypothesis, always keep in mind how you'll execute the experiment.

#4: Generalizability 

Perhaps you’d like to study what color your best friend wears the most often by observing and documenting the colors she wears each day of the week. This might be fun information for her and you to know, but beyond you two, there aren’t many people who could benefit from this experiment. When you start an experiment, you should note how generalizable your findings may be if they are confirmed. Generalizability is basically how common a particular phenomenon is to other people’s everyday life.

Let’s say you’re asking a question about the health benefits of eating an apple for one day only, you need to realize that the experiment may be too specific to be helpful. It does not help to explain a phenomenon that many people experience. If you find yourself with too specific of a hypothesis, go back to asking the big question: what is it that you want to know, and what do you think will happen between your two variables?

Hypothesis Testing Examples

We know it can be hard to write a good hypothesis unless you’ve seen some good hypothesis examples. We’ve included four hypothesis examples based on some made-up experiments. Use these as templates or launch pads for coming up with your own hypotheses.

Experiment #1: Students Studying Outside (Writing a Hypothesis)

You are a student at PrepScholar University. When you walk around campus, you notice that, when the temperature is above 60 degrees, more students study in the quad. You want to know when your fellow students are more likely to study outside. With this information, how do you make the best hypothesis possible?

You must remember to make additional observations and do secondary research before writing your hypothesis. In doing so, you notice that no one studies outside when it’s 75 degrees and raining, so this should be included in your experiment. Also, studies done on the topic beforehand suggested that students are more likely to study in temperatures less than 85 degrees. With this in mind, you feel confident that you can identify your variables and write your hypotheses:

If-then: “If the temperature in Fahrenheit is less than 60 degrees, significantly fewer students will study outside.”

Null: “If the temperature in Fahrenheit is less than 60 degrees, the same number of students will study outside as when it is more than 60 degrees.”

These hypotheses are plausible, as the temperatures are reasonably within the bounds of what is possible. The number of people in the quad is also easily observable. It is also not a phenomenon specific to only one person or at one time, but instead can explain a phenomenon for a broader group of people.

To complete this experiment, you pick the month of October to observe the quad. Every day (except on the days where it’s raining)from 3 to 4 PM, when most classes have released for the day, you observe how many people are on the quad. You measure how many people come  and how many leave. You also write down the temperature on the hour. 

After writing down all of your observations and putting them on a graph, you find that the most students study on the quad when it is 70 degrees outside, and that the number of students drops a lot once the temperature reaches 60 degrees or below. In this case, your research report would state that you accept or “failed to reject” your first hypothesis with your findings.

Experiment #2: The Cupcake Store (Forming a Simple Experiment)

Let’s say that you work at a bakery. You specialize in cupcakes, and you make only two colors of frosting: yellow and purple. You want to know what kind of customers are more likely to buy what kind of cupcake, so you set up an experiment. Your independent variable is the customer’s gender, and the dependent variable is the color of the frosting. What is an example of a hypothesis that might answer the question of this study?

Here’s what your hypotheses might look like: 

If-then: “If customers’ gender is female, then they will buy more yellow cupcakes than purple cupcakes.”

Null: “If customers’ gender is female, then they will be just as likely to buy purple cupcakes as yellow cupcakes.”

This is a pretty simple experiment! It passes the test of plausibility (there could easily be a difference), defined concepts (there’s nothing complicated about cupcakes!), observability (both color and gender can be easily observed), and general explanation ( this would potentially help you make better business decisions ).

Experiment #3: Backyard Bird Feeders (Integrating Multiple Variables and Rejecting the If-Then Hypothesis)

While watching your backyard bird feeder, you realized that different birds come on the days when you change the types of seeds. You decide that you want to see more cardinals in your backyard, so you decide to see what type of food they like the best and set up an experiment. 

However, one morning, you notice that, while some cardinals are present, blue jays are eating out of your backyard feeder filled with millet. You decide that, of all of the other birds, you would like to see the blue jays the least. This means you'll have more than one variable in your hypothesis. Your new hypotheses might look like this: 

If-then: “If sunflower seeds are placed in the bird feeders, then more cardinals will come than blue jays. If millet is placed in the bird feeders, then more blue jays will come than cardinals.”

Null: “If either sunflower seeds or millet are placed in the bird, equal numbers of cardinals and blue jays will come.”

Through simple observation, you actually find that cardinals come as often as blue jays when sunflower seeds or millet is in the bird feeder. In this case, you would reject your “if-then” hypothesis and “fail to reject” your null hypothesis . You cannot accept your first hypothesis, because it’s clearly not true. Instead you found that there was actually no relation between your different variables. Consequently, you would need to run more experiments with different variables to see if the new variables impact the results.

Experiment #4: In-Class Survey (Including an Alternative Hypothesis)

You’re about to give a speech in one of your classes about the importance of paying attention. You want to take this opportunity to test a hypothesis you’ve had for a while: 

If-then: If students sit in the first two rows of the classroom, then they will listen better than students who do not.

Null: If students sit in the first two rows of the classroom, then they will not listen better or worse than students who do not.

You give your speech and then ask your teacher if you can hand out a short survey to the class. On the survey, you’ve included questions about some of the topics you talked about. When you get back the results, you’re surprised to see that not only do the students in the first two rows not pay better attention, but they also scored worse than students in other parts of the classroom! Here, both your if-then and your null hypotheses are not representative of your findings. What do you do?

This is when you reject both your if-then and null hypotheses and instead create an alternative hypothesis . This type of hypothesis is used in the rare circumstance that neither of your hypotheses is able to capture your findings . Now you can use what you’ve learned to draft new hypotheses and test again! 

Key Takeaways: Hypothesis Writing

The more comfortable you become with writing hypotheses, the better they will become. The structure of hypotheses is flexible and may need to be changed depending on what topic you are studying. The most important thing to remember is the purpose of your hypothesis and the difference between the if-then and the null . From there, in forming your hypothesis, you should constantly be asking questions, making observations, doing secondary research, and considering your variables. After you have written your hypothesis, be sure to edit it so that it is plausible, clearly defined, observable, and helpful in explaining a general phenomenon.

Writing a hypothesis is something that everyone, from elementary school children competing in a science fair to professional scientists in a lab, needs to know how to do. Hypotheses are vital in experiments and in properly executing the scientific method . When done correctly, hypotheses will set up your studies for success and help you to understand the world a little better, one experiment at a time.

What’s Next?

If you’re studying for the science portion of the ACT, there’s definitely a lot you need to know. We’ve got the tools to help, though! Start by checking out our ultimate study guide for the ACT Science subject test. Once you read through that, be sure to download our recommended ACT Science practice tests , since they’re one of the most foolproof ways to improve your score. (And don’t forget to check out our expert guide book , too.)

If you love science and want to major in a scientific field, you should start preparing in high school . Here are the science classes you should take to set yourself up for success.

If you’re trying to think of science experiments you can do for class (or for a science fair!), here’s a list of 37 awesome science experiments you can do at home

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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Understanding a Hypothesis (Definition, Null, and Examples)

You come home exhausted and plop down on the couch. You don’t know why you are feeling so weary. You think about several possible reasons. Is it because you stayed up late last night? Is it because you skipped breakfast? Or is it because you had to take the stairs due to a power outage? Or is it because of all the above reasons?

What you are doing is hypothesizing about why you are feeling tired.

If you enjoy reading detective stories, you would have already come across a hypothesis. A good whodunit mystery confounds the reader with multiple hypotheses about who committed the crime.

• What is a Hypothesis?

The term hypothesis is often used in a scientific context as a possible explanation for an occurrence.

The word originated from ancient Greek and means “putting under” indicating its early association with experimentation.

A hypothesis is:

• An assumption that serves as a starting point for further research
• A supposition made on the basis of insufficient evidence
• A tentative and logical statement that can be tested for its authenticity
• An idea that seeks to explain why a phenomenon takes place
• A prediction about the outcome of a study according to known facts
• A proposal about the possible relationship between two or more variables

A scientist testing a hypothesis is no different from a detective investigating a crime scene. Famous detectives such as Sherlock Holmes combine the evidence with their powers of prediction to identify the criminal from several potential suspects.

The scientist examines each hypothesis rigorously for any inconsistencies through experiments before it can receive the stamp of approval.

Scientists accept a hypothesis as a theory only after it has been validated several times in different conditions. This includes use of scientific methods and protocols involving observation and analysis of results.

A good hypothesis seeks to establish a causal relationship between two or more variables, primarily between the independent and the dependent variable.

Brushing your teeth at least twice in a day reduces the incidence of dental caries.

The independent variable or cause in the above example is the number of times you brush in a day. The dependent variable or effect is the incidence of dental caries or cavities.

A scientist or researcher tests a hypothesis by changing the independent variable and measuring its effect on the dependent variable.

A relationship between a single independent and dependent variable is known as a simple hypothesis.

The mathematical expression of this relationship is:

• where x is the independent variable and Y is the dependent variable and
• where x is the input and Y is the output or a function of x

So, brushing your teeth at least twice daily is an input and the reduction of dental caries is an output or a function of the action of brushing your teeth. 

If there are multiple independent variables or in some cases more than a single dependent variable, the statement is a complex hypothesis.

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day and using dental floss reduces the incidence of cavities and periodontitis.

In the above example the two independent variables are brushing teeth and using dental floss. The dependent variables are reduction in cavities and periodontitis or gum infection. In this example the two independent variables are common for the two dependent variables.

The equation of a complex hypothesis can be written as:

Y = f(x 1 +x 2 +x 3 …)

Y 1 = f(z 1 +z 2 +z 3 …)

where z is a different set of independent variables for Y1 as the dependent variable

• Developing a Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a frame of reference or a window through which you observe a phenomenon. The phenomenon is the dependent variable. Your job is to determine the independent variables that are causing the event.

Cultivate the habit of looking for patterns in anything that happens. Train your mind to think in terms of stimulus and reaction or cause and effect.

This will enable you to glean insights from the knowledge you gather. You will then be able to write a strong hypothesis that focuses on the variables that matter over the noise.

The six steps to developing a hypothesis are:

• Ask a question
• Preliminary research
• Formulate the hypothesis
• Refine the hypothesis
• Phrase your hypothesis in three ways
• Write a null hypothesis

Ask a Question

The first step is to write a research question.

To write an effective research question be as curious as possible. Start with asking yourself a ton of questions.

Begin with broad and open-ended questions before narrowing it down to more specific ones.

You can use the 5W1H method to get into the mode of writing a research question.

• What took place?
• When did it happen?
• Where did it occur?
• Why did it take place?
• Who did it affect ?
• How did it happen?

The research question needs to be clear, objective , well-defined and measurable.

Do people who take health supplements log in fewer sick days at work in a year than those who don’t?

After you have framed the right question you can make an educated guess to answer it. This answer will be your preliminary hypothesis. Your hypothesis will attempt to answer the research question with observable facts through various experiments.

Preliminary Research

You don’t have to start from scratch. You can draw from preexisting knowledge and well-established theories to discount fallacious premises at the outset.

Resources that you can refer to include case studies, research papers and theses published in academic or scientific journals. A thorough background research will help you to look at the research question from several angles.

Do keep an open mind or a blank slate to avoid falling in the trap of preconceived notions and prejudices. Your initial research should help you focus on the areas where you are most likely to find the answers.

You can come up with a blueprint or outline highlighting the variables that you think are most relevant to your research question.

Think how changing the attributes of a single variable potentially affects others. You may need to operationalize or define how you are going to measure the variables and their effects.

Formulate the Hypothesis

It’s time now to put together your hypothesis into words.

A sound hypothesis states:

• Who or what is being studied?
• The relationship between the variables
• A measurable and reproducible outcome
• The possibility to prove it as true or false

Teenagers in the 14-16 age group who eat a high-protein diet are taller by two inches than the average height for that age group.

The next step is to ensure your statement ticks all the boxes for a strong hypothesis.

Is the hypothesis:

• Precise and quantifiable without any ambiguity
• Lucid and focused on the results described in the research question

Does the hypothesis include:

• An independent and dependent variable
• Variables that can be changed or controlled
• Terms that even a layman can understand
• A well-defined outcome

Phrase your Hypothesis in Three Ways

A hypothesis is often written in an If-then format. This format describes the cause and effect relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable.

Phrase your hypothesis as “If {you make changes to an independent variable} then {you will observe this change in the dependent variable}.”

If employees are given more autonomy to take work-related decisions then their overall performance improves.

Another way to write a hypothesis is by directly stating the outcome between the two variables.

More autonomy in terms of taking work-related decisions helps to improve an employee’s overall performance.

You can also state a hypothesis as a comparison between two groups.

Employees who are offered more autonomy to take work-related decisions show better overall performance than those who work in a micro-managed environment.

Write a Null Hypothesis

The next step is to frame a null hypothesis, especially if your study requires you to analyze the data statistically. A null hypothesis by default takes a converse position to the researcher’s hypothesis.

Your statement is known as the alternative hypothesis while its opposite outcome is referred to as the null hypothesis.

If you expect a change according to a relationship between the variables the null hypothesis denies the possibility of any change or association between the variables. If you expect the conditions to remain constant the null hypothesis states that change will take place.

The null hypothesis is referred to as H 0. Your hypothesis which is the alternative is written as H 1 or H a .

H 1 : A player who is more than two meters tall has a better chance of winning the National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award.

H 0 : The height of a player does not affect his prospects of winning the National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award.

Hypothesis Examples

Examples of research questions.

• Which loop diuretic drug is more effective for treating heart failure?
• Does attending online learning sessions help students to improve their exam scores?
• Does talking on the phone while driving cause more accidents?
• Does increasing the pressure affect the rate of reaction between gases?
• Is a person more likely to be obese if she or he eats unhealthy foods at least four times in a week?

Examples of a Hypothesis

• The clinical trial of the new drug Furosemide proved that it is better at treating heart failure than other loop diuretic drugs such as Bumetanide.
• The students who attended online learning sessions had better exam scores than those who skipped the sessions.
• Drivers who talk on the phone are likely to have an accident than those who don’t.
• Increasing the pressure affects the concentration of gases and it acts as a catalyst in speeding up the rate of reaction.
• People who eat processed foods frequently are more likely to be obese than people who limit their intake of such foods.

Examples of a Null Hypothesis

• The clinical trial proved that there is no difference between the effectiveness of Furosemide and other loop diuretic drugs, such as Bumetanide, for treating heart failure.
• There is no difference in the exam scores of students who attended online learning sessions and those who did not attend.
• There is no difference in the rate of accidents experienced by drivers who talk on the phone compared with those who don’t talk on the phone while driving.
• The elevation of pressure has no effect on the rate of reaction between gases.
• The food consumed and its frequency of consumption do not affect the probability of a person becoming obese.

What are Null Hypotheses?

The null hypothesis states the opposite outcome to the researcher’s hypothesis.

In most cases, the null hypothesis’s default position is a prediction that no relationship exists between any two or more variables. The null hypothesis denies the possibility of a causal relationship existing between an assumed independent and dependent variable.

The symbol of the null hypothesis is H 0 .

The notion of a null hypothesis fulfills the requirement of the falsifiability of a hypothesis before it can be accepted as valid.

A null hypothesis is often written as a negative statement that posits that the original hypothesis is false. It either claims that the results obtained are due to chance or there is no evidence to prove any change.

Original Hypothesis: Use of nitrogen fertilizers helps plants grow faster as compared to use of phosphorus or potassium fertilizers. 

Null Hypothesis (H 0 ): The fertilizer used has no bearing on the rate of plant growth

What are Alternative Hypotheses?

An alternative hypothesis states the researcher’s supposition of a causal relationship between any two or more variables. Alternative hypotheses are based upon an observable effect and seek to predict how changing an independent variable will affect the dependent variable.

An alternative hypothesis is symbolized as H 1 or H a . It’s often written together with a null hypothesis with the two statements existing as a dual pair of opposite assumptions. Only a single statement among two can be true.

Alternative hypotheses try to determine that the results are obtained due to significant changes related to the variables and not due to chance.

Research Question: Does washing hands thoroughly with soap before eating a meal reduce the rate of recurrence of respiratory ailments?

Alternative Hypothesis (H 1 ): Washing hands with soap before eating reduces the rate of recurrence of respiratory ailments by 30% compared with those who neglect hand hygiene.

Null Hypothesis (H 0 ): Washing hands with soap before eating has no effect on the rate of recurrence of respiratory ailments. 

What is Hypothesis Testing?

After you have formulated a hypothesis, you need to choose a research and testing method.

Use a descriptive approach when experiments are difficult to conduct. A descriptive method incorporates case studies and surveys to collect data.

You can employ statistical tools such as a correlational study to measure the relationship between variables.

A correlational study calculates the probability of whether a linkage between two variables can be determined or do the changes occur purely due to chance. Do note that correlation is not equivalent to causality.

This method lets you arrive at a conclusion by generalizing the data obtained without performing any actual experiments. A hypothesis proved using this approach is known as a statistical hypothesis.

The other approach is the experimental method in which causal relationships are established between different variables through demonstrations. A working or empirical hypothesis often makes use of the experimental method to determine the relationships between the variables.

The steps for testing a hypothesis experimentally are:

• Design of experiments
• Collating data
• Analysis of observable facts
• Summarizing the conclusions
• Validating the hypothesis as a theory

How to Write a Good Hypothesis

To find ideas for a hypothesis, you can look through discussion sections in academic and scientific journals or browse online publications. You will come across questions that can be investigated further.

Simple Steps

The steps to write a strong hypothesis are:

• Choose your frame of reference or direction for determining the cause
• Such an approach is known as a directional hypothesis
• If you are unable to determine a starting point or the current theories are ambiguous and contradictory, you can choose a non-directional approach
• This method involves stating the facts and observations randomly and then seeking to find a pattern
• Identify the key variables
• A variable is any attribute that can have measurable values such as temperature, time, or length
• Tentatively label some variables as independent and some as dependent
• State the relationship between the variables using clear and objective language
• Operationalize or define how you will measure the variables for testability
• Write the statement in the If-then format. You can also write it as a declarative sentence
• Avoid jargon and use simple words that can be understood by a layman
• Write a null hypothesis to satisfy the condition of falsifiability

If you watch television for more than three hours a day, then your ability to concentrate diminishes.

How to Write a Scientific Hypothesis

A good scientific hypothesis is:

• Consistent: Use preexisting knowledge as a springboard for further research
• Testable: Include words that are quantifiable or measurable
• Concise: Cut down on verbose phrases and use precise words
• Scalable: Formulate the statement in a universal context based on the variables
• Promising: State unexplained occurrences as loose ends that can be investigated further

Simple steps

• Record your observations and facts about the topic
• Evaluate your statements for possible links to determine the cause and effect
• Document all potential explanations to analyze further
• Write the null hypothesis along with your own hypothesis
• This satisfies the requisite condition for a valid hypothesis. It can either be confirmed or disproved

If you plant cotton in black soil, then the production is boosted by 20% as compared to the output from red soil.

How to write a Psychology Hypothesis

A psychology hypothesis often begins with how the environment or certain parameters within it influence or cause a specific behavior.

To write a sound psychology hypothesis:

• Choose a topic that you are genuinely interested in
• Do not ramble. Keep it short and simple
• Use previous research and your own study to direct your vision
• Ascertain and define the variables
• You can write the hypothesis either as an If-then statement
• Other alternatives are to write the hypothesis as a direct sentence or a comparative supposition

Use the following questions to guide your understanding of the topic.

• Is your hypothesis based on a preexisting theory or your own research? 
• Can your hypothesis be tested for falsifiability?
• What are the independent and dependent variables?

People who exercise regularly are less at risk from depression than people who lead a sedentary life.

• What is and How to Write a Good Hypothesis in Research?
• How to Write a Hypothesis in 6 Steps
• Developing Hypothesis and Research Questions
• Forming a Good Hypothesis for Scientific Research
• 6 Hypothesis Examples in Psychology
• Correlational Research | When & How to Use
• How to Write a Strong Hypothesis in 6 Simple Steps
• How to Develop a Good Research Hypothesis
• How To Develop a Hypothesis (With Elements, Types and Examples)
• Definition of Hypothesis

Inside this article

Fact checked: Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. Learn more.

About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.

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• How to Write a Strong Hypothesis | Guide & Examples

How to Write a Strong Hypothesis | Guide & Examples

Published on 6 May 2022 by Shona McCombes .

A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested by scientific research. If you want to test a relationship between two or more variables, you need to write hypotheses before you start your experiment or data collection.

Table of contents

What is a hypothesis, developing a hypothesis (with example), hypothesis examples, frequently asked questions about writing hypotheses.

A hypothesis states your predictions about what your research will find. It is a tentative answer to your research question that has not yet been tested. For some research projects, you might have to write several hypotheses that address different aspects of your research question.

A hypothesis is not just a guess – it should be based on existing theories and knowledge. It also has to be testable, which means you can support or refute it through scientific research methods (such as experiments, observations, and statistical analysis of data).

Variables in hypotheses

Hypotheses propose a relationship between two or more variables . An independent variable is something the researcher changes or controls. A dependent variable is something the researcher observes and measures.

In this example, the independent variable is exposure to the sun – the assumed cause . The dependent variable is the level of happiness – the assumed effect .

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Step 1: ask a question.

Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that you want to answer. The question should be focused, specific, and researchable within the constraints of your project.

Step 2: Do some preliminary research

Your initial answer to the question should be based on what is already known about the topic. Look for theories and previous studies to help you form educated assumptions about what your research will find.

At this stage, you might construct a conceptual framework to identify which variables you will study and what you think the relationships are between them. Sometimes, you’ll have to operationalise more complex constructs.

Step 3: Formulate your hypothesis

Now you should have some idea of what you expect to find. Write your initial answer to the question in a clear, concise sentence.

Step 4: Refine your hypothesis

You need to make sure your hypothesis is specific and testable. There are various ways of phrasing a hypothesis, but all the terms you use should have clear definitions, and the hypothesis should contain:

• The relevant variables
• The specific group being studied
• The predicted outcome of the experiment or analysis

Step 5: Phrase your hypothesis in three ways

To identify the variables, you can write a simple prediction in if … then form. The first part of the sentence states the independent variable and the second part states the dependent variable.

In academic research, hypotheses are more commonly phrased in terms of correlations or effects, where you directly state the predicted relationship between variables.

If you are comparing two groups, the hypothesis can state what difference you expect to find between them.

Step 6. Write a null hypothesis

If your research involves statistical hypothesis testing , you will also have to write a null hypothesis. The null hypothesis is the default position that there is no association between the variables. The null hypothesis is written as H 0 , while the alternative hypothesis is H 1 or H a .

Hypothesis testing is a formal procedure for investigating our ideas about the world using statistics. It is used by scientists to test specific predictions, called hypotheses , by calculating how likely it is that a pattern or relationship between variables could have arisen by chance.

A hypothesis is not just a guess. It should be based on existing theories and knowledge. It also has to be testable, which means you can support or refute it through scientific research methods (such as experiments, observations, and statistical analysis of data).

A research hypothesis is your proposed answer to your research question. The research hypothesis usually includes an explanation (‘ x affects y because …’).

A statistical hypothesis, on the other hand, is a mathematical statement about a population parameter. Statistical hypotheses always come in pairs: the null and alternative hypotheses. In a well-designed study , the statistical hypotheses correspond logically to the research hypothesis.

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How to Say Hypothesis in a Sentence: A Comprehensive Guide

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to effectively use the word “hypothesis” in a sentence. Whether you are writing a formal academic paper or engaging in a casual conversation, we will provide you with various examples and tips to help you master the usage of this term. So let’s dive in and explore the formal and informal ways to express a hypothesis in a sentence!

Formal Usage of Hypothesis

When using “hypothesis” in a formal setting such as academic writing or professional discussions, it is important to employ a precise and refined language. Here are a few examples of how to express a hypothesis formally:

1. Substantiating Your Hypothesis

In scientific research, it is crucial to provide evidence and support for your hypothesis. Here’s a sentence that demonstrates this formal approach:

“Based on the available data, we hypothesize that increased exposure to sunlight leads to a decrease in vitamin D deficiency among individuals.”

In this example, the sentence clearly outlines the hypothesis while emphasizing the importance of supporting evidence.

2. Presenting a Null Hypothesis

Null hypotheses are often used to compare against alternative hypotheses. Here’s an example sentence with a null hypothesis:

“Our null hypothesis suggests that there is no significant difference in productivity levels between the two groups.”

This sentence establishes the null hypothesis, which assumes no notable distinction between the compared groups.

3. Stating an Alternative Hypothesis

When your goal is to challenge or present an alternative to the null hypothesis, you can consider the following sentence:

“Contrary to the null hypothesis, our alternative hypothesis proposes that there is a direct correlation between regular exercise and improved cognitive function.”

This sentence effectively introduces an alternative hypothesis, highlighting the potential relationship between exercise and cognitive function.

Informal Usage of Hypothesis

Informal settings, such as casual conversations or everyday writing, allow for a more relaxed language. Nevertheless, understanding how to use the term “hypothesis” informally is equally important. Here are a few examples:

1. Discussing Hypotheses Casually

Informal conversations often involve hypothesizing about various situations or outcomes. Here’s an example sentence that reflects this casual approach:

“I have a hypothesis that eating ice cream before bed leads to more vivid dreams.”

This sentence presents a hypothesis in an informal manner, expressing a personal theory without any rigorous scientific evidence.

2. Speculating Playfully

In some situations, you may want to indulge in playful speculation. Here’s a sentence that allows for a more lighthearted expression:

“My hypothesis is that the best cure for a bad day is a warm hug from a fluffy puppy.”

This light-hearted sentence showcases a playful hypothesis, which doesn’t need to be backed by factual evidence.

Using the word “hypothesis” effectively in different contexts is crucial for clear communication. Whether you are aiming for a formal or casual approach, the examples and tips provided in this guide should help you construct sentences that convey your ideas accurately. Remember to adapt your language based on the context and maintain a warm and friendly tone when engaging in informal discussions. Now, armed with this knowledge, you can confidently express hypotheses in your writing and conversations!

Related Posts

Guide on How to Say a Hypothesis

Gaining a firm understanding of how to express a hypothesis is essential for researchers, students, and professionals across various fields. A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon or a scientific question that requires further investigation and testing. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore both formal and informal ways to express a hypothesis, providing helpful tips and examples along the way.

How to Say a Hypothesis is Correct: A Comprehensive Guide

In the scientific realm, formulating and testing hypotheses is a crucial aspect of research and experimentation. Once you have conducted your study and collected data, it becomes essential to evaluate the results and determine whether your hypothesis is correct. Expressing this conclusion requires precision and clarity, whether done formally or informally. In this guide, we will explore various ways to articulate that a hypothesis is correct, featuring tips, examples, and considerations for both formal and informal situations.

Guide: How to Say a Hypothesis Was Wrong

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on effectively expressing that a hypothesis was incorrect. Whether you are involved in scientific research, academic discussions, or everyday conversations, communicating the failure of a hypothesis can sometimes be challenging. In this guide, we will explore various formal and informal ways to convey this information, providing tips, examples, and possible regional variations along the way. So, let's dive in!

How to Say Hypothesis: A Guide to Formal and Informal Ways

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to say the word "hypothesis." Whether you are looking for the formal or informal ways to express this term, we've got you covered. In this article, we will also provide a few tips, examples, and even touch upon regional variations if necessary, to ensure you have a thorough understanding. So, let's dive right in!

How to Say Hypothesis in Other Words

Welcome to this guide where we explore various ways to express the word "hypothesis" in different contexts, whether formal or informal. Understanding alternative phrases for "hypothesis" can help diversify your vocabulary and improve your communication skills. Let's delve into some useful alternatives, along with tips, examples, and regional variations where applicable.

How to Say Hypothesis in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you struggling to find the right word to express "hypothesis" in Spanish? You've come to the right place! In this guide, we will explore different ways to say "hypothesis" in both formal and informal contexts. We'll provide you with tips, examples, and even touch upon regional variations when necessary. So, let's delve into this linguistic adventure and discover the perfect translation for "hypothesis" in Spanish.

Guide: How to Say Your Hypothesis is Correct

When you believe your hypothesis is correct, it's important to express this conviction in a clear and confident manner. Whether you are presenting your findings in a formal context or discussing them informally, articulating your confidence effectively can help convey the validity of your work. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various ways to express the correctness of your hypothesis, including formal and informal approaches. We will also highlight tips, examples, and regional variations to ensure you can effectively communicate your belief. So, let's dive in!

Guide: How to Say "Hypothesis Is Incorrect"

When conducting research or engaging in discussions, it is essential to accurately convey that a hypothesis is incorrect. Expressing this in a clear and respectful manner can help foster understanding and further scientific inquiry. In this guide, we will explore both formal and informal ways to communicate that a hypothesis is incorrect, providing tips, examples, and regional variations where necessary.

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How to Write a Hypothesis: Tips, Guidelines, and Hypothesis Examples

In any industry, the ability to use observations and create a compelling hypothesis to solve a problem through research is very valuable. Scientists, data analysts, and medical professionals should all learn how to write a hypothesis to guide their research. A good hypothesis is a key part of using research methods that lead to impactful research.

In this guide, we’ll define a hypothesis and the elements that make a complete hypothesis. We’ll also cover a couple of hypothesis examples and answer questions about creating a hypothesis. By the time you are done reading this article, you’ll know how to write a hypothesis that is perfect for any research project or empirical research paper.

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What is a hypothesis.

A hypothesis is a testable statement used in research, and researchers use the hypothesis to design an experiment that will give results that support or do not support the hypothesis. People make causal hypotheses all the time when solving problems. For example, if you have an assumption that if you restart your computer it will fix the problem you’re having with a program, that statement is testable, because you can restart your computer and see if it fixes the problem.

What Are the Elements of a Hypothesis?

• Statement of the research question. A hypothesis is the research question rewritten as a testable statement. You have to include the goal of the research, the variables, the relationship between variables, and a testable prediction. Without a clear research question, you could end up performing endless, aimless research studies.
• Independent variable. The independent variable is the part of the experiment where you change something. If you are wondering whether different types of motor oil change your car’s mileage, motor oil is the independent variable. This is usually based on an idea that you came up with to solve a problem.
• Dependent variable. The dependent variable is the part of the experiment where you measure the outcome and collect data. In the above example about motor oil, the dependent variable is the car’s mileage because that is what you are measuring.
• Predicted relationship between the independent and dependent variable. The goal of your hypothesis is to make an educated guess of what impact the independent variable has on the dependent variable. You can hypothesize that different kinds of motor oil will have no effect on a car’s mileage, or that one kind of motor oil will increase the car’s mileage. This is also the declarative statement.
• Testability. You have to be able to test your hypothesis through experimentation. A hypothesis like, “Unicorns prefer to eat cake instead of cookies,” isn’t testable because there aren’t any unicorns to do the experiment with.

How to Write a Hypothesis: Beginning and Ending

To write a solid hypothesis you need to understand the scientific method and the basic format of a hypothesis. A strong, testable hypothesis turns random ideas into scientific experiments. A well-written hypothesis is usually a single sentence. Let’s look at how to start and end a strong hypothesis.

How to Begin a Hypothesis

The beginning of your hypothesis introduces the variables. Remember, the independent variable is the thing you change in your experiment and the dependent variable is the thing you measure.  In the example, “Flowers watered with lemonade will grow faster than flowers watered with plain water,” water and lemonade are the independent variables and flowers’ growth rate is the dependent variable.

Many people choose to structure hypotheses as an if-then statement. For instance, “If you drink coffee before going to bed, then it will take you longer to fall asleep.” If you are having trouble with the process of hypothesis writing, then you should try starting with an if-then statement.

How to End a Hypothesis

The second section of a simple hypothesis statement is where you predict the relationship between the types of variables. Using our coffee example above, the second half of the sentence shows how we expect the amount of coffee to impact the time it takes to fall asleep.

When you write your prediction, remember to ask yourself, “Is this hypothesis testable?” You can predict that there is no relationship between your variables, that the independent variable will have an effect on the dependent variable, or you can make a specific guess about how the independent variable will affect the dependent variable. Bad hypotheses are not testable, because there is no way to prove or disprove your original idea.

How to Write a Hypothesis: 5 More Useful Tips

Conduct preliminary research

To create a scientific hypothesis, you need to get background knowledge on your topic by reading previous studies, scientific experiments, and academic journals. You need to become a student of the sciences again. Be open-minded and explore research that supports and doesn’t support your ideas. Learn about the experimental methods other people use, and find any knowledge gaps that you could fill with your research question.

Define a research question

The first step in formulating a hypothesis is to brainstorm a research question. Use your writing skills to write a research question that’s specific, clear, focused, and manageable. Make sure you have the resources to conduct whatever experiment you’ll need to answer the question.

Formulate a hypothesis

Use your new background knowledge to rewrite your research question as a testable statement. Remember to include an independent variable, a dependent variable, and predict how they are related. Use an if-then statement if you are having trouble.

Refine your hypothesis

The first draft of a hypothesis is rarely perfect. You’ll need to edit and proofread to find and fix mistakes. Make sure your hypothesis is testable and has all the relevant variables. Try to get a peer or advisor to read your hypothesis and suggest changes.

Create a null and alternative hypothesis

A null hypothesis always states that there is no relationship between variables, while an alternative hypothesis states there is some kind of relationship between variables. You need to write both a null and alternative hypothesis for statistical analysis. An example of a null hypothesis from our coffee example is, “If you drink coffee before going to bed, it will have no impact on how long it takes to fall asleep.”

Hypothesis Examples to Help You Write a Hypothesis

The best way to learn how to write a hypothesis is to read example hypotheses. Below are a couple of example hypotheses.

Hypothesis Example 1: Smoking and Lung Cancer

A hypothesis explores the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Let’s say we are interested in the relationship between smoking habits and lung cancer. Our independent variable is smoking habits and our dependent variable is lung cancer.

Next, we have to use our hypothesis to make a prediction about the relationship between smoking habits and lung cancer. Based on background knowledge we might guess that daily smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. This is our alternative hypothesis. The null hypothesis requires us to predict that there is no relationship between the variables.

Our null hypothesis is, “Daily smoking does not affect the risk of lung cancer.” Our alternative hypothesis is, “Daily smoking increases the risk of lung cancer.” Both hypotheses have an independent and dependent variable, both are testable, and both predict a relationship between the two variables.

Hypothesis Example 2: Vitamins and Hair Growth Rate

Say you work for a company that distributes vitamins. You think vitamins E and K help hair growth, but there is limited evidence about how these different vitamins impact hair growth. You decide to conduct a single experiment on how vitamins impact hair growth for scientific exploration.

You have a strong research question, “Does vitamin E or vitamin K make your hair grow faster?” Now we need to turn that into an experimental hypothesis. Our independent variable is what vitamins to take and our dependent variable is the hair growth rate. This is a complex hypothesis because we are testing two vitamins, two independent variables.

The null hypothesis is, “Neither vitamin E nor vitamin K impact hair growth rate.” One possible alternative hypothesis is, “Both vitamins E and K increase hair growth rate.” There are also a few other possible alternative hypotheses depending on what you think the relationship is between vitamin E and hair growth vs vitamin K and hair growth.

How to Use Hypothesis Examples to Write Your Own

The hypothesis examples we’ve discussed should give you a starting point for writing your own hypotheses. Use your research skills to develop a research question and then use our tips to rewrite it into a testable hypothesis with a simple prediction.

How to Write a Hypothesis FAQ

A hypothesis is a statement that describes a research question and predicts a relationship between variables. The same information can be posed as a question, but a true hypothesis is written as a statement. Hypotheses are often written as if-then statements.

A null hypothesis is a type of hypothesis that predicts that there is no relationship between your variables. For instance, if your research question is, “Is it important to integrate mental health education into schools?” Your null hypothesis is, “Implementation of mental health education in school will not affect students.

An alternative hypothesis means you expect that there is some relationship between variables. Let’s use the research question, “Is it important to integrate mental health education into schools?” An alternative hypothesis to that would be “Implementing mental health education in school programs will impact students.”

A good hypothesis is a simple statement of a research question that is testable and must include a dependent variable, an independent variable, and a prediction of the relationship between the two variables. There are also specific types of hypotheses such as a directional hypothesis, a non-directional hypothesis, or an associative hypothesis.

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a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation ( working hypothesis ) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.

a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.

the antecedent of a conditional proposition.

a mere assumption or guess.

Origin of hypothesis

Synonym study for hypothesis, other words from hypothesis.

• hy·poth·e·sist, noun
• coun·ter·hy·poth·e·sis, noun, plural coun·ter·hy·poth·e·ses.
• sub·hy·poth·e·sis, noun, plural sub·hy·poth·e·ses.

Words that may be confused with hypothesis

• 1. hypothesis , law , theory (see synonym study at theory )
• 2. deduction , extrapolation , induction , generalization , hypothesis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use hypothesis in a sentence

Though researchers have struggled to understand exactly what contributes to this gender difference, Dr. Rohan has one hypothesis .

The leading hypothesis for the ultimate source of the Ebola virus, and where it retreats in between outbreaks, lies in bats.

In 1996, John Paul II called the Big Bang theory “more than a hypothesis .”

To be clear: There have been no double-blind or controlled studies that conclusively confirm this hair-loss hypothesis .

The bacteria-driven-ritual hypothesis ignores the huge diversity of reasons that could push someone to perform a religious ritual.

And remember it is by our hypothesis the best possible form and arrangement of that lesson.

Taken in connection with what we know of the nebulæ, the proof of Laplace's nebular hypothesis may fairly be regarded as complete.

What has become of the letter from M. de St. Mars, said to have been discovered some years ago, confirming this last hypothesis ?

To admit that there had really been any communication between the dead man and the living one is also an hypothesis .

"I consider it highly probable," asserted Aunt Maria, forgetting her Scandinavian hypothesis .

British Dictionary definitions for hypothesis

/ ( haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs ) /

a suggested explanation for a group of facts or phenomena, either accepted as a basis for further verification ( working hypothesis ) or accepted as likely to be true : Compare theory (def. 5)

an assumption used in an argument without its being endorsed; a supposition

an unproved theory; a conjecture

Derived forms of hypothesis

• hypothesist , noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for hypothesis

[ hī-pŏth ′ ĭ-sĭs ]

A statement that explains or makes generalizations about a set of facts or principles, usually forming a basis for possible experiments to confirm its viability.

usage For hypothesis

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for hypothesis

[ (heye- poth -uh-sis) ]

plur. hypotheses (heye- poth -uh-seez)

In science, a statement of a possible explanation for some natural phenomenon. A hypothesis is tested by drawing conclusions from it; if observation and experimentation show a conclusion to be false, the hypothesis must be false. ( See scientific method and theory .)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Research Hypothesis In Psychology: Types, & Examples

Saul Mcleod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul Mcleod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Learn about our Editorial Process

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

A research hypothesis, in its plural form “hypotheses,” is a specific, testable prediction about the anticipated results of a study, established at its outset. It is a key component of the scientific method .

Hypotheses connect theory to data and guide the research process towards expanding scientific understanding

Some key points about hypotheses:

• A hypothesis expresses an expected pattern or relationship. It connects the variables under investigation.
• It is stated in clear, precise terms before any data collection or analysis occurs. This makes the hypothesis testable.
• A hypothesis must be falsifiable. It should be possible, even if unlikely in practice, to collect data that disconfirms rather than supports the hypothesis.
• Hypotheses guide research. Scientists design studies to explicitly evaluate hypotheses about how nature works.
• For a hypothesis to be valid, it must be testable against empirical evidence. The evidence can then confirm or disprove the testable predictions.
• Hypotheses are informed by background knowledge and observation, but go beyond what is already known to propose an explanation of how or why something occurs.

Predictions typically arise from a thorough knowledge of the research literature, curiosity about real-world problems or implications, and integrating this to advance theory. They build on existing literature while providing new insight.

Types of Research Hypotheses

Alternative hypothesis.

The research hypothesis is often called the alternative or experimental hypothesis in experimental research.

It typically suggests a potential relationship between two key variables: the independent variable, which the researcher manipulates, and the dependent variable, which is measured based on those changes.

The alternative hypothesis states a relationship exists between the two variables being studied (one variable affects the other).

A hypothesis is a testable statement or prediction about the relationship between two or more variables. It is a key component of the scientific method. Some key points about hypotheses:

• Important hypotheses lead to predictions that can be tested empirically. The evidence can then confirm or disprove the testable predictions.

In summary, a hypothesis is a precise, testable statement of what researchers expect to happen in a study and why. Hypotheses connect theory to data and guide the research process towards expanding scientific understanding.

An experimental hypothesis predicts what change(s) will occur in the dependent variable when the independent variable is manipulated.

It states that the results are not due to chance and are significant in supporting the theory being investigated.

The alternative hypothesis can be directional, indicating a specific direction of the effect, or non-directional, suggesting a difference without specifying its nature. It’s what researchers aim to support or demonstrate through their study.

Null Hypothesis

The null hypothesis states no relationship exists between the two variables being studied (one variable does not affect the other). There will be no changes in the dependent variable due to manipulating the independent variable.

It states results are due to chance and are not significant in supporting the idea being investigated.

The null hypothesis, positing no effect or relationship, is a foundational contrast to the research hypothesis in scientific inquiry. It establishes a baseline for statistical testing, promoting objectivity by initiating research from a neutral stance.

Many statistical methods are tailored to test the null hypothesis, determining the likelihood of observed results if no true effect exists.

This dual-hypothesis approach provides clarity, ensuring that research intentions are explicit, and fosters consistency across scientific studies, enhancing the standardization and interpretability of research outcomes.

Nondirectional Hypothesis

A non-directional hypothesis, also known as a two-tailed hypothesis, predicts that there is a difference or relationship between two variables but does not specify the direction of this relationship.

It merely indicates that a change or effect will occur without predicting which group will have higher or lower values.

For example, “There is a difference in performance between Group A and Group B” is a non-directional hypothesis.

Directional Hypothesis

A directional (one-tailed) hypothesis predicts the nature of the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. It predicts in which direction the change will take place. (i.e., greater, smaller, less, more)

It specifies whether one variable is greater, lesser, or different from another, rather than just indicating that there’s a difference without specifying its nature.

For example, “Exercise increases weight loss” is a directional hypothesis.

Falsifiability

The Falsification Principle, proposed by Karl Popper , is a way of demarcating science from non-science. It suggests that for a theory or hypothesis to be considered scientific, it must be testable and irrefutable.

Falsifiability emphasizes that scientific claims shouldn’t just be confirmable but should also have the potential to be proven wrong.

It means that there should exist some potential evidence or experiment that could prove the proposition false.

However many confirming instances exist for a theory, it only takes one counter observation to falsify it. For example, the hypothesis that “all swans are white,” can be falsified by observing a black swan.

For Popper, science should attempt to disprove a theory rather than attempt to continually provide evidence to support a research hypothesis.

Can a Hypothesis be Proven?

Hypotheses make probabilistic predictions. They state the expected outcome if a particular relationship exists. However, a study result supporting a hypothesis does not definitively prove it is true.

All studies have limitations. There may be unknown confounding factors or issues that limit the certainty of conclusions. Additional studies may yield different results.

In science, hypotheses can realistically only be supported with some degree of confidence, not proven. The process of science is to incrementally accumulate evidence for and against hypothesized relationships in an ongoing pursuit of better models and explanations that best fit the empirical data. But hypotheses remain open to revision and rejection if that is where the evidence leads.

• Disproving a hypothesis is definitive. Solid disconfirmatory evidence will falsify a hypothesis and require altering or discarding it based on the evidence.
• However, confirming evidence is always open to revision. Other explanations may account for the same results, and additional or contradictory evidence may emerge over time.

We can never 100% prove the alternative hypothesis. Instead, we see if we can disprove, or reject the null hypothesis.

If we reject the null hypothesis, this doesn’t mean that our alternative hypothesis is correct but does support the alternative/experimental hypothesis.

Upon analysis of the results, an alternative hypothesis can be rejected or supported, but it can never be proven to be correct. We must avoid any reference to results proving a theory as this implies 100% certainty, and there is always a chance that evidence may exist which could refute a theory.

How to Write a Hypothesis

• Identify variables . The researcher manipulates the independent variable and the dependent variable is the measured outcome.
• Operationalized the variables being investigated . Operationalization of a hypothesis refers to the process of making the variables physically measurable or testable, e.g. if you are about to study aggression, you might count the number of punches given by participants.
• Decide on a direction for your prediction . If there is evidence in the literature to support a specific effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable, write a directional (one-tailed) hypothesis. If there are limited or ambiguous findings in the literature regarding the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable, write a non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis.
• Make it Testable : Ensure your hypothesis can be tested through experimentation or observation. It should be possible to prove it false (principle of falsifiability).
• Clear & concise language . A strong hypothesis is concise (typically one to two sentences long), and formulated using clear and straightforward language, ensuring it’s easily understood and testable.

Consider a hypothesis many teachers might subscribe to: students work better on Monday morning than on Friday afternoon (IV=Day, DV= Standard of work).

Now, if we decide to study this by giving the same group of students a lesson on a Monday morning and a Friday afternoon and then measuring their immediate recall of the material covered in each session, we would end up with the following:

• The alternative hypothesis states that students will recall significantly more information on a Monday morning than on a Friday afternoon.
• The null hypothesis states that there will be no significant difference in the amount recalled on a Monday morning compared to a Friday afternoon. Any difference will be due to chance or confounding factors.

More Examples

• Memory : Participants exposed to classical music during study sessions will recall more items from a list than those who studied in silence.
• Social Psychology : Individuals who frequently engage in social media use will report higher levels of perceived social isolation compared to those who use it infrequently.
• Developmental Psychology : Children who engage in regular imaginative play have better problem-solving skills than those who don’t.
• Clinical Psychology : Cognitive-behavioral therapy will be more effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety over a 6-month period compared to traditional talk therapy.
• Cognitive Psychology : Individuals who multitask between various electronic devices will have shorter attention spans on focused tasks than those who single-task.
• Health Psychology : Patients who practice mindfulness meditation will experience lower levels of chronic pain compared to those who don’t meditate.
• Organizational Psychology : Employees in open-plan offices will report higher levels of stress than those in private offices.
• Behavioral Psychology : Rats rewarded with food after pressing a lever will press it more frequently than rats who receive no reward.

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eslwriting.org

A panoply of teaching resources.

Writing Hypothesis Sentences

Some English students have a hard time expressing complex ideas in short sentences. They don’t know how to summarize or synthesize information. This short lesson helps students overcome that barrier by teaching them how to construct a hypothesis with an easy to learn sentence pattern. 

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

• define hypothesis
• use it to communicate and synthesize complex ideas

Student Level: intermediate +

Lesson time: 50-75 minutes

Extra resource: pdf file with images and suggested answers for class review .

Part 1. Overview: Hypothesis Sentence Pattern (10 minutes)

A hypothesis is a sentence which shows us how two different things are connected. There are many ways to write a hypothesis. This lessons focuses on one sentence pattern because it is easy to understand and use.

Here are some examples:

• The more water a plant gets, the faster the plant will grow.
• The more I study , the more I learn.
• The richer the country, the more waste is produced.
• The hotter the temperature , the more ice cream people buy.

When writing a hypothesis sentence, it is important to remember this:

• The things you are looking at must be measurable. These are called variables.
• That means, we have to be able to count or measure quantify the variables we are trying to connect.

Now look at the key words in the 4 hypothesis sentences above. How can we measure these different things?

Check this file for a few possible answers .

Part 2: Practice #1 (10 minutes)

In this short task, students apply their new found knowledge of the hypothesis sentence pattern. The task uses a famous video clip with Steve Jobs .

Step 1: Introduce video clip. It is a small part of a speech made by Steve Jobs at a university convocation.

Step 2: Students listen to the video and summarize the main idea in the form of a hypothesis sentence pattern.

Step 3: Play video 2-3 times.

Step 4: Students to work in pairs and create one hypothesis sentence that summarizes the speaker’s main idea.

Step 5: Review answers in class. 

Part 3: Practice #2 (10 minutes)

Another practice round where students summarize data by creating hypothesis sentences. The suggested teaching approach is a pair work fluency drill.

Step 1: Put students in pairs or small groups.

Step 2: Introduce task. Students look at an image for one minute. They write one sentence hypothesis sentence that summarizes the data.

Step 3: Show the first image as a group practice effort.

Step 4: Give students 1 to 2 minutes to study the image and write a hypothesis sentence with their partner.

Step 5: After time has passed, review answers in class. 

Step 6: Begin the drill. Show each image for 1 – 2 minutes, or enough time for students to think about, create and write down one hypothesis statement.

Step 7: After all images have been examined, review sentences on whiteboard with whole class.

Here are some images and data sets for the drill:

Check this file to few the graphs and show some  possible answers .

Part 4: World History Video Summary (20-40 minutes)

This video shows the history of Earth . 200 years of change in 4 minutes. It is a unique presentation that will help build your students’ vocabulary and listening skills. The video is also a good example of telling a great story with hypothesis sentences.

Step 1. Watch the video one time.

Step 2. Make notes and answer these questions with a partner.

• What is the variable for each axis on the graph?
• How is each variable counted or measured?
• Write one hypothesis sentence using the data from the video.

Step 3. Discuss answers with whole class.

Step 4. Write a paragraph or more to explain the cause and effect relationship in the hypothesis.

Optional Step: Vocabulary Preview

Depending on the needs of your class, it might be a good idea to preview some vocabulary before students watch the video. Here are some words and phrases critical to video comprehension.

• life expectancy
• income per person
• Middle East
• industrial revolution
• Great Depression
• to catch up
• inequalities

Enjoy the lesson. Cheers!

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3 thoughts on “writing hypothesis sentences”.

Great site!

Thank you for the video. I can understand it, but I can’t define or explain it in ratio form. Please define and answer your question for me, so I can better understand. Thank you again.

Really good explanation. I’ll try to use it during lessons. I like a lot creative lessons ant this is one of them.

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Hypothesis in a Sentence  🔊

Definition of Hypothesis

a proposed explanation or theory that is studied through scientific testing

Examples of Hypothesis in a sentence

The scientist’s hypothesis did not stand up, since research data was inconsistent with his guess.  🔊

Each student gave a hypothesis and theorized which plant would grow the tallest during the study.  🔊

A hypothesis was presented by the panel, giving a likely explanation for why the trial medicine didn’t seem to have much of an effect on the patients.  🔊

During the study, the researcher changed her hypothesis to a new assumption that fit with current data.  🔊

To confirm his hypothesis on why the dolphin wasn’t eating, the marine biologists did several tests over a week’s time.  🔊

Other words in the Opinion, Belief category:

Most Searched Words (with Video)

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Inquisitive: In a Sentence

Epoch: In a Sentence

Aberrant: In a Sentence

Apprehensive: In a Sentence

Obdurate: In a Sentence

Heresy: In a Sentence

Gambit: In a Sentence

Pneumonia: In a Sentence

Otiose: In a Sentence

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• Knowledge Base
• Null and Alternative Hypotheses | Definitions & Examples

Null & Alternative Hypotheses | Definitions, Templates & Examples

Published on May 6, 2022 by Shaun Turney . Revised on June 22, 2023.

The null and alternative hypotheses are two competing claims that researchers weigh evidence for and against using a statistical test :

• Null hypothesis ( H 0 ): There’s no effect in the population .
• Alternative hypothesis ( H a or H 1 ) : There’s an effect in the population.

Table of contents

Answering your research question with hypotheses, what is a null hypothesis, what is an alternative hypothesis, similarities and differences between null and alternative hypotheses, how to write null and alternative hypotheses, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions.

The null and alternative hypotheses offer competing answers to your research question . When the research question asks “Does the independent variable affect the dependent variable?”:

• The null hypothesis ( H 0 ) answers “No, there’s no effect in the population.”
• The alternative hypothesis ( H a ) answers “Yes, there is an effect in the population.”

The null and alternative are always claims about the population. That’s because the goal of hypothesis testing is to make inferences about a population based on a sample . Often, we infer whether there’s an effect in the population by looking at differences between groups or relationships between variables in the sample. It’s critical for your research to write strong hypotheses .

You can use a statistical test to decide whether the evidence favors the null or alternative hypothesis. Each type of statistical test comes with a specific way of phrasing the null and alternative hypothesis. However, the hypotheses can also be phrased in a general way that applies to any test.

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The null hypothesis is the claim that there’s no effect in the population.

If the sample provides enough evidence against the claim that there’s no effect in the population ( p ≤ α), then we can reject the null hypothesis . Otherwise, we fail to reject the null hypothesis.

Although “fail to reject” may sound awkward, it’s the only wording that statisticians accept . Be careful not to say you “prove” or “accept” the null hypothesis.

Null hypotheses often include phrases such as “no effect,” “no difference,” or “no relationship.” When written in mathematical terms, they always include an equality (usually =, but sometimes ≥ or ≤).

You can never know with complete certainty whether there is an effect in the population. Some percentage of the time, your inference about the population will be incorrect. When you incorrectly reject the null hypothesis, it’s called a type I error . When you incorrectly fail to reject it, it’s a type II error.

Examples of null hypotheses

The table below gives examples of research questions and null hypotheses. There’s always more than one way to answer a research question, but these null hypotheses can help you get started.

*Note that some researchers prefer to always write the null hypothesis in terms of “no effect” and “=”. It would be fine to say that daily meditation has no effect on the incidence of depression and p 1 = p 2 .

The alternative hypothesis ( H a ) is the other answer to your research question . It claims that there’s an effect in the population.

Often, your alternative hypothesis is the same as your research hypothesis. In other words, it’s the claim that you expect or hope will be true.

The alternative hypothesis is the complement to the null hypothesis. Null and alternative hypotheses are exhaustive, meaning that together they cover every possible outcome. They are also mutually exclusive, meaning that only one can be true at a time.

Alternative hypotheses often include phrases such as “an effect,” “a difference,” or “a relationship.” When alternative hypotheses are written in mathematical terms, they always include an inequality (usually ≠, but sometimes < or >). As with null hypotheses, there are many acceptable ways to phrase an alternative hypothesis.

Examples of alternative hypotheses

The table below gives examples of research questions and alternative hypotheses to help you get started with formulating your own.

Null and alternative hypotheses are similar in some ways:

• They’re both answers to the research question.
• They both make claims about the population.
• They’re both evaluated by statistical tests.

However, there are important differences between the two types of hypotheses, summarized in the following table.

To help you write your hypotheses, you can use the template sentences below. If you know which statistical test you’re going to use, you can use the test-specific template sentences. Otherwise, you can use the general template sentences.

General template sentences

The only thing you need to know to use these general template sentences are your dependent and independent variables. To write your research question, null hypothesis, and alternative hypothesis, fill in the following sentences with your variables:

Does independent variable affect dependent variable ?

• Null hypothesis ( H 0 ): Independent variable does not affect dependent variable.
• Alternative hypothesis ( H a ): Independent variable affects dependent variable.

Test-specific template sentences

Once you know the statistical test you’ll be using, you can write your hypotheses in a more precise and mathematical way specific to the test you chose. The table below provides template sentences for common statistical tests.

Note: The template sentences above assume that you’re performing one-tailed tests . One-tailed tests are appropriate for most studies.

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Normal distribution
• Descriptive statistics
• Measures of central tendency
• Correlation coefficient

Methodology

• Cluster sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Types of interviews
• Cohort study
• Thematic analysis

Research bias

• Implicit bias
• Cognitive bias
• Survivorship bias
• Availability heuristic
• Nonresponse bias
• Regression to the mean

Hypothesis testing is a formal procedure for investigating our ideas about the world using statistics. It is used by scientists to test specific predictions, called hypotheses , by calculating how likely it is that a pattern or relationship between variables could have arisen by chance.

Null and alternative hypotheses are used in statistical hypothesis testing . The null hypothesis of a test always predicts no effect or no relationship between variables, while the alternative hypothesis states your research prediction of an effect or relationship.

The null hypothesis is often abbreviated as H 0 . When the null hypothesis is written using mathematical symbols, it always includes an equality symbol (usually =, but sometimes ≥ or ≤).

The alternative hypothesis is often abbreviated as H a or H 1 . When the alternative hypothesis is written using mathematical symbols, it always includes an inequality symbol (usually ≠, but sometimes < or >).

A research hypothesis is your proposed answer to your research question. The research hypothesis usually includes an explanation (“ x affects y because …”).

A statistical hypothesis, on the other hand, is a mathematical statement about a population parameter. Statistical hypotheses always come in pairs: the null and alternative hypotheses . In a well-designed study , the statistical hypotheses correspond logically to the research hypothesis.

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Examples of “Hypothesis” In A Sentence

The hypothesis is a very important part of doing science and thinking carefully. It is like the strong supporting structure of a building for the process of research. A hypothesis is a clever guess or idea that can be tested to see if it is true or not. It helps us understand things or predict what might happen. In this article, we will look at many examples of ‘hypothesis’ in sentences .

Table of Contents

Sentences with Hypothesis

• Hypothesis : The sun rises in the east.
• They formulated a null hypothesis to compare against the alternative.
• We need to revise the original hypothesis .
• They discussed the hypothesis with colleagues in their field.
• They formulated competing hypotheses to compare and contrast the findings.
• The students generated multiple hypotheses for their investigation.
• The hypothesis was generated from observations.
• The hypothesis is the starting point of scientific investigation.
• The researchers tested the hypothesis using various methodologies.
• We need to investigate the hypothesis
• The hypothesis needs more evidence to be proven.
• The hypothesis was rejected due to flaws in the experimental design.
• They tested the hypothesis using computer simulations.
• The team tested the hypothesis using advanced technology.
• The hypothesis was derived from logical reasoning.
• They conducted surveys to gather data for their hypotheses .
• They proposed alternative hypotheses for further exploration.
• The hypothesis was consistent with data from other studies.
• The hypothesis was based on logical reasoning.
• The hypothesis was supported by the statistical analysis.

Sentences with “Hypothesis”

• The hypothesis was proven incorrect.
• The hypothesis was rejected due to lack of evidence.
• They discussed the hypothesis with their peers.
• The hypothesis was proposed based on logical deductions.
• The hypothesis was validated through rigorous peer review.
• The team discussed potential hypotheses during brainstorming sessions.
• They discussed the limitations of their hypothesis
• The students proposed various hypotheses for the investigation.
• The hypothesis was confirmed by independent replication studies.
• The students formed testable hypotheses for their projects.
• They used a control group to test their hypothesis .
• The hypothesis was formulated as a cause-and-effect relationship.
• The hypothesis was supported by the literature review.
• Scientists test their hypotheses through experiments.
• The hypothesis was proposed based on observations in nature.
• They analyzed the data to validate the hypothesis .
• They designed the experiment to test the hypothesis
• The hypothesis was based on previous research findings.
• They revised the hypothesis based on constructive feedback.
• They presented their hypotheses at a research symposium.
• They conducted experiments to test their hypotheses .
• The hypothesis was supported by a large and diverse sample.
• The researchers tested the hypothesis using a variety of methodologies.
• They conducted surveys to gather data that supported their hypothesis .
• The team formulated new hypotheses for future investigations.
• The hypothesis was consistent with experimental results.

“Hypothesis” Use in Sentence

• They discussed the implications of the hypothesis on their field.
• The researchers discussed the implications of their hypotheses .
• The hypothesis was derived from careful observation and analysis.
• The team developed alternative hypotheses for further investigation.
• They presented their hypotheses to the research community.
• The hypothesis was based on a comprehensive review of the literature.
• The hypothesis was supported by strong logical reasoning.
• They discussed the implications of their hypothesis for future research.
• The hypothesis was based on a well-established scientific theory.
• The researchers tested their hypotheses using different methodologies.
• The hypothesis was supported by empirical evidence.
• The researchers evaluated their hypotheses
• The hypothesis was disproven by contradictory evidence.
• The researchers discussed the limitations of their hypotheses .
• The hypothesis was based on a well-established theory.
• The hypothesis was supported by a large sample size.
• The hypothesis was consistent with patterns observed in nature.
• They proposed new hypotheses for future investigation.
• The hypothesis was confirmed by the results of the study.
• The hypothesis guided the research process.
• The hypothesis was supported by strong scientific consensus.
• The hypothesis was rejected due to methodological limitations.
• The researchers proposed several hypotheses to explain the phenomenon.
• The hypothesis was confirmed by multiple researchers in the field.
• The hypothesis was validated through multiple studies.

Sentences Using “Hypothesis”

• The researchers conducted experiments to test their hypotheses .
• The hypothesis was based on observations from nature.
• The hypothesis was supported by a wide range of evidence.
• They formed competing hypotheses to compare.
• Scientists often revise their hypotheses based on new data.
• They conducted experiments to support their hypotheses .
• The team discussed their hypothesis during the meeting.
• The students discussed their hypotheses in class.
• They developed a new hypothesis based on recent findings.
• They discussed the hypothesis with other experts in the field.
• The hypothesis was supported by a significant p-value.
• The hypothesis was generated from real-world observations.
• Mary’s hypothesis was supported by the data.
• They tested their hypotheses across different populations.
• The researchers tested multiple hypotheses to find the answer.
• They presented their hypothesis at a scientific conference.
• The hypothesis was supported by strong evidence.
• They presented their hypotheses in a clear and concise manner.
• The researchers proposed a working hypothesis to start their study.
• The team discussed the hypothesis during the brainstorming session.
• The researchers proposed different hypotheses for the observed behavior.
• The hypothesis is a crucial part of any scientific study.
• The hypothesis was refuted by the experimental results.

“Hypothesis” Sentences Examples

• We need to gather more data to test the hypothesis .
• The hypothesis was consistent with existing theories.
• The hypothesis was supported by a strong theoretical framework.
• The hypothesis was based on previous studies.
• They formulated a null hypothesis as the default assumption.
• The hypothesis was consistent with theoretical predictions.
• The hypothesis was based on prior knowledge.
• The hypothesis was supported by strong experimental data.
• The team formed a new hypothesis after analyzing the data.
• The hypothesis was consistent with the findings of previous studies.
• The hypothesis was rejected due to methodological flaws.
• The hypothesis was proven right after extensive testing.
• The hypothesis was consistent with real-world observations.
• The team tested their hypothesis in different conditions.
• The hypothesis was consistent with the predictions.
• The students generated their hypotheses for the experiment.
• The hypothesis was confirmed by multiple independent studies.
• The hypothesis was tested using a randomized controlled trial.
• They formulated a null hypothesis to compare against.
• The hypothesis was based on inductive reasoning.
• The hypothesis was validated through repeated experiments.
• The hypothesis guided the design of the experiment.
• They used statistical analysis to validate the hypothesis .
• The researchers discussed the implications of their hypothesis on society.
• They revised the hypothesis based on feedback from experts.
• The hypothesis was confirmed by expert analysis.
• Hypotheses are essential in the scientific method.
• Lisa proposed an interesting hypothesis for her project.
• They analyzed the data to support their hypothesis .
• The hypothesis was supported by compelling arguments.
• They conducted interviews to explore their hypotheses .

Use “Hypothesis” In A Sentence

• Sarah formulated a new hypothesis for her research.
• The hypothesis was confirmed by the experiment.
• The hypothesis was generated from prior observations.
• They conducted surveys to test their hypotheses .
• The hypothesis was supported by well-documented experimental results.
• The hypothesis was supported by strong correlations.
• The hypothesis was proposed after reviewing the literature.
• They proposed a working hypothesis to guide their study.
• The hypothesis was consistent with the observed results.
• They proposed alternative hypotheses for future exploration.
• The hypothesis was validated through rigorous statistical methods.
• The researchers tested their hypotheses
• John’s hypothesis led to groundbreaking discoveries.
• The hypothesis was supported by statistical significance.
• The researchers formulated a null hypothesis to compare against.
• The hypothesis was supported by theoretical predictions.
• They formed competing hypotheses to compare and contrast.
• The hypothesis was consistent with historical data.
• The hypothesis was supported by multiple lines of evidence.
• The hypothesis was revised based on feedback from reviewers.
• The scientists formulated a specific hypothesis to test.
• The hypothesis was based on empirical data.

Use Adaptable In A Sentence

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Hypothesis in a sentence

• 某某   2016-01-13 联网相关的政策
• improvement  (238+32)
• on balance  (53)
• wicked  (168+7)
• handlebar  (25)
• rainy  (165+9)
• trudge  (41+1)
• checkpoint  (102)
• events  (166+80)
• courage  (289+31)
• blizzard  (120+5)
• weary  (158+11)
• rationalize  (57+1)
• refund  (173+13)
• pack up  (56)
• at dusk  (69+1)
• university  (168+75)
• outdoors  (157+12)
• be concerned about  (42)
• on one's own  (38)
• aristocrat  (50)

How to Write a Lab Report – with Example/Template

April 11, 2024

Perhaps you’re in the midst of your challenging AP chemistry class in high school, or perhaps college you’re enrolled in biology , chemistry , or physics at university. At some point, you will likely be asked to write a lab report. Sometimes, your teacher or professor will give you specific instructions for how to format and write your lab report, and if so, use that. In case you’re left to your own devices, here are some guidelines you might find useful. Continue reading for the main elements of a lab report, followed by a detailed description of the more writing-heavy parts (with a lab report example/lab report template). Lastly, we’ve included an outline that can help get you started.

What is a lab report?

A lab report is an overview of your experiment. Essentially, it explains what you did in the experiment and how it went. Most lab reports end up being 5-10 pages long (graphs or other images included), though the length depends on the experiment. Here are some brief explanations of the essential parts of a lab report:

Title : The title says, in the most straightforward way possible, what you did in the experiment. Often, the title looks something like, “Effects of ____ on _____.” Sometimes, a lab report also requires a title page, which includes your name (and the names of any lab partners), your instructor’s name, and the date of the experiment.

Abstract : This is a short description of key findings of the experiment so that a potential reader could get an idea of the experiment before even beginning.

Introduction : This is comprised of one or several paragraphs summarizing the purpose of the lab. The introduction usually includes the hypothesis, as well as some background information.

Lab Report Example (Continued)

Materials : Perhaps the simplest part of your lab report, this is where you list everything needed for the completion of your experiment.

Methods : This is where you describe your experimental procedure. The section provides necessary information for someone who would want to replicate your study. In paragraph form, write out your methods in chronological order, though avoid excessive detail.

Data : Here, you should document what happened in the experiment, step-by-step. This section often includes graphs and tables with data, as well as descriptions of patterns and trends. You do not need to interpret all of the data in this section, but you can describe trends or patterns, and state which findings are interesting and/or significant.

Discussion of results : This is the overview of your findings from the experiment, with an explanation of how they pertain to your hypothesis, as well as any anomalies or errors.

Conclusion : Your conclusion will sum up the results of your experiment, as well as their significance. Sometimes, conclusions also suggest future studies.

Sources : Often in APA style , you should list all texts that helped you with your experiment. Make sure to include course readings, outside sources, and other experiments that you may have used to design your own.

How to write the abstract

The abstract is the experiment stated “in a nutshell”: the procedure, results, and a few key words. The purpose of the academic abstract is to help a potential reader get an idea of the experiment so they can decide whether to read the full paper. So, make sure your abstract is as clear and direct as possible, and under 200 words (though word count varies).

When writing an abstract for a scientific lab report, we recommend covering the following points:

• Background : Why was this experiment conducted?
• Objectives : What problem is being addressed by this experiment?
• Methods : How was the study designed and conducted?
• Results : What results were found and what do they mean?
• Conclusion : Were the results expected? Is this problem better understood now than before? If so, how?

How to write the introduction

The introduction is another summary, of sorts, so it could be easy to confuse the introduction with the abstract. While the abstract tends to be around 200 words summarizing the entire study, the introduction can be longer if necessary, covering background information on the study, what you aim to accomplish, and your hypothesis. Unlike the abstract (or the conclusion), the introduction does not need to state the results of the experiment.

Here is a possible order with which you can organize your lab report introduction:

• Intro of the intro : Plainly state what your study is doing.
• Background : Provide a brief overview of the topic being studied. This could include key terms and definitions. This should not be an extensive literature review, but rather, a window into the most relevant topics a reader would need to understand in order to understand your research.
• Importance : Now, what are the gaps in existing research? Given the background you just provided, what questions do you still have that led you to conduct this experiment? Are you clarifying conflicting results? Are you undertaking a new area of research altogether?
• Prediction: The plants placed by the window will grow faster than plants placed in the dark corner.
• Hypothesis: Basil plants placed in direct sunlight for 2 hours per day grow at a higher rate than basil plants placed in direct sunlight for 30 minutes per day.
• How you test your hypothesis : This is an opportunity to briefly state how you go about your experiment, but this is not the time to get into specific details about your methods (save this for your results section). Keep this part down to one sentence, and voila! You have your introduction.

How to write a discussion section

Here, we’re skipping ahead to the next writing-heavy section, which will directly follow the numeric data of your experiment. The discussion includes any calculations and interpretations based on this data. In other words, it says, “Now that we have the data, why should we care?”  This section asks, how does this data sit in relation to the hypothesis? Does it prove your hypothesis or disprove it? The discussion is also a good place to mention any mistakes that were made during the experiment, and ways you would improve the experiment if you were to repeat it. Like the other written sections, it should be as concise as possible.

Here is a list of points to cover in your lab report discussion:

• Weaker statement: These findings prove that basil plants grow more quickly in the sunlight.
• Stronger statement: These findings support the hypothesis that basil plants placed in direct sunlight grow at a higher rate than basil plants given less direct sunlight.
• Factors influencing results : This is also an opportunity to mention any anomalies, errors, or inconsistencies in your data. Perhaps when you tested the first round of basil plants, the days were sunnier than the others. Perhaps one of the basil pots broke mid-experiment so it needed to be replanted, which affected your results. If you were to repeat the study, how would you change it so that the results were more consistent?
• Implications : How do your results contribute to existing research? Here, refer back to the gaps in research that you mentioned in your introduction. Do these results fill these gaps as you hoped?
• Questions for future research : Based on this, how might your results contribute to future research? What are the next steps, or the next experiments on this topic? Make sure this does not become too broad—keep it to the scope of this project.

How to write a lab report conclusion

This is your opportunity to briefly remind the reader of your findings and finish strong. Your conclusion should be especially concise (avoid going into detail on findings or introducing new information).

Here are elements to include as you write your conclusion, in about 1-2 sentences each:

• Restate your goals : What was the main question of your experiment? Refer back to your introduction—similar language is okay.
• Restate your methods : In a sentence or so, how did you go about your experiment?
• Key findings : Briefly summarize your main results, but avoid going into detail.
• Limitations : What about your experiment was less-than-ideal, and how could you improve upon the experiment in future studies?
• Significance and future research : Why is your research important? What are the logical next-steps for studying this topic?

Template for beginning your lab report

Here is a compiled outline from the bullet points in these sections above, with some examples based on the (overly-simplistic) basil growth experiment. Hopefully this will be useful as you begin your lab report.

1) Title (ex: Effects of Sunlight on Basil Plant Growth )

2) Abstract (approx. 200 words)

• Background ( This experiment looks at… )
• Objectives ( It aims to contribute to research on…)
• Methods ( It does so through a process of…. )
• Results (Findings supported the hypothesis that… )
• Conclusion (These results contribute to a wider understanding about…)

3) Introduction (approx. 1-2 paragraphs)

• Intro ( This experiment looks at… )
• Background ( Past studies on basil plant growth and sunlight have found…)
• Importance ( This experiment will contribute to these past studies by…)
• Hypothesis ( Basil plants placed in direct sunlight for 2 hours per day grow at a higher rate than basil plants placed in direct sunlight for 30 minutes per day.)
• How you will test your hypothesis ( This hypothesis will be tested by a process of…)

4) Materials (list form) (ex: pots, soil, seeds, tables/stands, water, light source )

5) Methods (approx. 1-2 paragraphs) (ex: 10 basil plants were measured throughout a span of…)

6) Data (brief description and figures) (ex: These charts demonstrate a pattern that the basil plants placed in direct sunlight…)

7) Discussion (approx. 2-3 paragraphs)

• Support or reject hypothesis ( These findings support the hypothesis that basil plants placed in direct sunlight grow at a higher rate than basil plants given less direct sunlight.)
• Factors that influenced your results ( Outside factors that could have altered the results include…)
• Implications ( These results contribute to current research on basil plant growth and sunlight because…)
• Questions for further research ( Next steps for this research could include…)
• Restate your goals ( In summary, the goal of this experiment was to measure…)
• Restate your methods ( This hypothesis was tested by…)
• Key findings ( The findings supported the hypothesis because…)
• Limitations ( Although, certain elements were overlooked, including…)
• Significance and future research ( This experiment presents possibilities of future research contributions, such as…)
• Sources (approx. 1 page, usually in APA style)

Final thoughts – Lab Report Example

Hopefully, these descriptions have helped as you write your next lab report. Remember that different instructors may have different preferences for structure and format, so make sure to double-check when you receive your assignment. All in all, make sure to keep your scientific lab report concise, focused, honest, and organized. Good luck!

For more reading on coursework success, check out the following articles:

• How to Write the AP Lang Argument Essay (With Example)
• How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay (With Example)
• 49 Most Interesting Biology Research Topics
• 50 Best Environmental Science Research Topics
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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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Vietnam Paints Billionaire’s Death Sentence as a Victory for Clean Governance. It’s Not

I t’s Southeast Asia’s biggest ever fraud, amounting to $12.5 billion and embroiling some of Vietnam’s top bankers and officials. And on Thursday, a Ho Chi Minh City court reached its verdict: a death sentence for Truong My Lan, a highflying 67-year-old businesswoman who began life hawking cosmetics from a market stall in the southern city before in 1992 founding Van Thinh Phat, a sprawling company which developed luxury apartments, offices, hotels, and shopping malls.

In 2011, Lan was enlisted to shepherd the merger of the troubled Saigon Joint Commercial Bank, or SCB, with two other lenders in a plan overseen by the Vietnam Central Bank. But until her arrest in 2022, she stands accused of using SCB as her personal piggybank, embezzling billions via illegal loans to herself and confederates through thousands of shell companies at home and overseas. The verdict is the first death sentence for a private businessperson for financial crime.

The case has sent shockwaves through Vietnam’s business community and is the highest profile collar of Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s sweeping “Blazing Furnace” anti-corruption campaign. The full impact of Lan’s sentence—a family member told Reuters she intends to appeal —is not yet known though there are clear implications for international firms looking to Vietnam as they diversify supply chains away from China.

“This trial is probably the exemplar of Vietnam’s effort to crack down on corruption not only in the state sector but also in private spaces,” says Nguyen Khác Giang, a visiting fellow at the Vietnam Studies Program of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.

That Vietnam sought to make an example of Lan was clear. A guilty verdict in the trial that began just weeks ago may never have been in doubt, as befits a one-party autocracy, but this was no shadowy judgment far from public view. Lan was tried alongside 84 defendants, including her husband (who was sentenced to nine years in prison), close relatives, 45 SCB staff (including three executives given life prison sentences), 15 former officers from the Vietnam State Bank, three officials from the Government Inspectorate and one from the State Audit Office. Proceedings involved 10 state prosecutors, some 200 lawyers, and 2,700 witnesses. Evidence filled 104 boxes and weighed six tons. Local media were provided detailed briefings by party cadres typically schooled in deep secrecy.

“The defendant’s actions not only violate the property management rights of individuals and organizations but also put SCB under scrutiny, eroding people’s trust in the leadership of the Party and State,” state newspaper VnExpress cited the jury as saying, reports Reuters.

Vietnam is keen to paint the verdict as a victory for clean governance. Under Trong, Vietnam’s corruption’s ranking has steadily improved, leading to a glut of foreign direct investment. Samsung, LG, and Apple are among many foreign firms to have plowed billions into hi-tech manufacturing in Vietnam, powering ambitious plans to transform the once war torn Southeast Asian nation of 100 million into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030 and a high-income economy by 2045. The Hanoi government is also promoting domestic champions like VinGroup, whose VinFast electric vehicle subsidiary is building a $4 billion factory in North Carolina.

“In the long run, if they can clean up the market, removing toxic and illegal business practices, that will be good for the economy as a whole and something that investors should welcome,” says Le Hong Hiep, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

Yet the scale and brazenness of Lan’s crimes leave many questions unanswered. She was, after all, someone who built a vast real estate empire in a Leninist country where all land officially belongs to the state. That cannot happen without elite connections and protections. According to prosecutors, Lan’s loans made up 93% of all SCB’s lending, while over a period of three years she is accused of withdrawing the Vietnamese cash equivalent of $4 billion and storing it in her basement. The fact that not a single senior party official numbered among her copious conspirators beggars credulity. “I can’t believe the party apparatus and Ho Chi Minh City wasn’t culpable and involved,” says Carlyle Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia.

In truth, the party portion of the purge was likely already in motion—quietly, far from view, and for another, earlier scandal. In March 2020, Vietnam’s Inspection Committee recommended disciplinary action against two party chiefs in Ho Chi Minh City—Le Thanh Hai, Secretary of the city’s Party Committee and known as “Boss Hai;” and Le Hoang Quan, a former head of the city’s Standing Committee—over alleged serious violations related to a vast development project in Vietnam’s largest municipality.

This influential pair very likely steered Lan’s meteoric rise and her subsequent fall from grace. Why they (or anyone else in Ho Chi Minh City) have so far not been further implicated in Lan’s crimes remains a contentious topic, though with both already punished, the party probably decided against washing more dirty linen in public. Not least since the purge of two Presidents amid graft allegations in just one year has already raised unwelcome scrutiny on official malfeasance.

Still, the draconian punishment handed to Lan is already having effects, with businesses complaining of “bureaucratic paralysis” due to officials now too scared to do their jobs. “Even approving a new project will take a lot of time because people are really afraid of making decisions,” says Giang. Hiep, meanwhile, suggests Lan’s death sentence may well be counterproductive and overturned on appeal. “The main point now is to recover the losses and maintain investor confidence in the judicial system and the economy,” says Hiep. “And giving her a death sentence does not help in either regard.”

Of course, boosting investments in Vietnam is something championed by Washington, which in September elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership when President Joe Biden visited Hanoi. Vietnam is now Apple’s largest manufacturing hub outside of China and where the Cupertino behemoth produces iPads, AirPods, and Apple Watches. Last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son to Washington, D.C., where they vowed to expand cooperation in semiconductors, supply chain diversification, and stability and prosperity in the South China Sea.

Today, countering Beijing’s regional assertiveness takes precedence for the U.S. Yet Lan’s fate shows that China and Vietnam remain at their core very similar beasts. On Thursday, more than 60 human rights and environmental rights organizations wrote a letter to Apple to highlight the Sept. 15 detention of Ngo Thi To Nhien, the executive director of the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition, an independent think tank focused on green energy policy—the latest in an ongoing crackdown on environmentalists .

“All these companies say they are ‘de-risking’ their supply chains by moving out of China to Vietnam,” says Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch. “But what are they really supporting? Companies with very fancy codes of conduct are investing in a country where human rights abuses are systematic and pervasive.” Lan’s case shows that while America’s rivals have changed, Vietnam’s autocracy remains distinctly unruffled.

“I don’t think this will increase trust in the system,” says Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii. “For the business community, this is just another example of [officials] fighting each other, corruption, and the unpredictability of the environment.”

More Must-Reads From TIME

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Write to Charlie Campbell at [email protected]

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Word of the day

Word of the Day: succinctly

This word has appeared in 54 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?

By The Learning Network

succinctly \ səkˈsɪŋktli \ adverb

: with concise and precise brevity; to the point

Listen to the pronunciation.

The word succinctly has appeared in 54 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on March 4 in “ Why Is There No Oscar for Best Choreography ?” by Margaret Fuhrer:

Imaginative, world-expanding dance helped make Hollywood what it is, defining the movie musicals of its golden age. So many classic movies live and breathe through their dance numbers, marvels of choreographic wit and technical ingenuity. Today’s film choreographers also shape far more than steps, creating scenes that propel plot in ways that dialogue can’t. It makes sense that dance scenes frequently go viral: Good film choreography can capture, succinctly and with striking clarity, the essence of a character, relationship or problem. “A well-choreographed movie scene can have a huge cultural impact,” said Kathryn Burns, a film and television choreographer. “That deserves recognition.”

Daily Word Challenge

Can you correctly use the word succinctly in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

If you want a better idea of how succinctly can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com . You can also visit this guide to learn how to use IPA symbols to show how different words are pronounced.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try our vocabulary quizzes .

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com . Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary . See every Word of the Day in this column .

Donald Trump could face prison time if he is convicted in upcoming NY hush money trial

If former President Donald Trump is convicted on all counts in his New York criminal hush money trial that begins April 15, he could theoretically face more than a decade in prison.

But most legal experts who spoke to USA TODAY said such a dramatic outcome is unlikely. Instead, he would likely be sentenced to something between probation and four years in prison. And he would probably still be out, free to campaign for president as the presumptive or actual 2024 Republican nominee, while his all-but-certain appeal was pending.

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Each count carries a maximum sentence of four years.

While Trump could in principle be sentenced to serve multiple counts consecutively, several experts said that is unlikely because he has no felony criminal record and the charges don't involve allegations of physical violence.

On the other hand, Trump has tested boundaries and feuded with the judge who may determine his fate.

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Trump has antagonized Judge Juan Merchan

Trump's sentence would be decided by Judge Juan Merchan, who has grown exasperated by the former president's pretrial behavior. Merchan expanded a gag order this month after Trump attacked the judge's daughter on social media over her marketing work with Democratic candidates, including posting a photo of her. Merchan said Trump has a history of attacking the family members of judges and lawyers in his legal cases.

"The average observer, must now, after hearing Defendant's recent attacks, draw the conclusion that if they become involved in these proceedings, even tangentially, they should worry not only for themselves,  but for their loved ones as well ," Merchan wrote in his gag order decision .

John Moscow, a New York lawyer who spent 30 years in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, told USA TODAY that type of behavior could worsen any sentence Trump faces.

"If I were representing somebody in (Trump's) position, I would suggest to him that the judge is the one who imposes sentence and he ought to be careful," Moscow said.

If Merchan did consider a hefty sentence, it wouldn't be the first time he has taken a harsh view about behavior in Trump's orbit.

In 2023, Merchan was forced to sentence former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg to only five months in jail because Merchan had previously accepted a plea bargain agreement between Weisselberg and prosecutors specifying that jail term. Weisselberg pleaded guilty to tax and record falsification charges and agreed to testify against the Trump Organization at trial in order to get that sentence.

The judge said, however, that he "would be imposing a sentence much greater than that" had he not accepted the plea bargain before hearing all the evidence at the trial. Without the plea deal, Weisselberg could have faced many years in prison.

What is Trump charged with?

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts in the case, which focuses on whether he falsified business records to cover up reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels. Daniels has said she had a sexual encounter with Trump soon after Melania Trump gave birth to their son, Barron Trump. Trump denies the claim.

In order to secure felony convictions, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office must convince a 12-person jury that Trump falsified the records in order to commit or conceal another crime. In this case, Bragg argues Trump was trying to conceal a federal campaign finance law violation by falsely recording his reimbursements to Cohen as payments for legal services. The federal violation was a limit-exceeding contribution to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, as the payment was allegedly designed to keep Daniels' story from hurting the then-Republican nominee's election prospects. Bragg also alleges Trump was trying to conceal a plan to violate New York tax and election laws.

Nothing in the Constitution prevents Trump from becoming president even if he is convicted or sentenced to prison. If he won the election, however, courts may delay any prison time until after his term in office expires .

What is the maximum possible sentence?

The 34 felony counts Trump faces are classified as "Class E felonies" under New York law – the lowest level felony in the state. The maximum penalty on each count is four years of prison, and a judge would have discretion over whether to order Trump to serve sentences on each count at the same time or one after the other. However, New York caps such sentencing for Class E felonies at 20 years .

In addition, New York judges often impose sentencing ranges, where an incarcerated person becomes eligible for parole at the low end of the range. For Class E felonies, the lowest end of a range would be one-and-a-third years per count, while the highest would be four years. Good behavior in jail or prison can speed things up even more.

A sentence limited to probation?

Merchan would also have discretion to order a fixed sentence of less than those ranges, including probation.

That's what Mitchell Epner, a New York lawyer with decades of criminal law experience, expects would happen even if Trump were convicted on all counts. Epner noted the felony charges aren't violent and don't involve drugs.

"With a defendant who has no prior criminal record, my absolute expectation would be a sentence of probation," Epner told USA TODAY.

Epner wasn't alone in thinking that could be the sentencing outcome.

"This is a case that does not involve any physical violence, and it doesn't – there's not sort of a 'named victim,' so to speak – and so the court is going to take that into consideration," Anna Cominsky, who directs the Criminal Defense Clinic at New York Law School, told USA TODAY.

"In addition, I think it is unlikely that he would be sent to prison given who he is, given both the fact that he has no criminal record, and there is no getting around the fact that he is a former president of the United States," Cominsky said.

Incarceration a real possibility

Norman Eisen, a Brookings Institution senior fellow who served as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during Trump's first impeachment, thought a sentence that includes some incarceration is likely.

Eisen co-authored a report looking at sentencing for other defendants with no criminal history who were convicted of falsifying business records in New York. There, he noted one construction executive was sentenced in 2015 to spend two days each week in jail for a year for falsifying records to conceal payments in a bribery scheme. In 2013, two corporate executives were ordered to spend four to six months in jail for falsifying records to misclassify their salaries as expenses under their employer's larger bribery and fraud scheme.

"I think he's likely to face a sentence of incarceration if he's convicted," Eisen told USA TODAY.

Cominsky said the evidence Merchan hears at trial could also influence his thinking when it comes to sentencing.

"Often you'll hear judges refer to testimony at trial, evidence that was presented at trial, and say, 'This is why I'm imposing this sentence, because I heard from this particular witness or I saw this particular piece of evidence,'" Cominsky said.

Moscow pushed back against the assumption that Trump's sentences on each count would run simultaneously, instead of being stacked on top of each other. Just as a judge may take into account that a defendant has won a Nobel Peace Prize or lifted orphans from poverty, the judge may look at significant evidence of bad acts, Moscow said.

"When you start attacking the judge's daughter, and making her out to be a target, you have just breached the normal rules," Moscow said.

Trump has also posted a photo of himself wielding a bat, with his eyes directed toward an adjacent photo of Bragg, among other attacks on the district attorney. Bragg's office has received thousands of harassing emails, calls, and texts – including death threats – after Trump's social media attacks, it said in a court filing .

Diana Florence, a New York lawyer who spent decades in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, said Merchan's sentence would need to have some relation to what other white-collar defendants in similar cases have received, and she would be surprised if someone had ever gotten a sentencing range for falsifying business records with a minimum of 10 years or more.

Such a long sentence "would be very, very, very, very unusual, and if Judge Merchan wanted to make a point and do that, I highly doubt the appellate division would allow that to stand," she said. "It's just too much time for the conduct."

However, Florence added that a reasonable sentencing range could include a minimum period of more than a year incarcerated.

Sentencing someone with Secret Service protection?

Contemplating any jail or prison sentence would take Merchan into unchartered territory: Trump is the first former president ever criminally charged, and the Secret Service provides him with around-the-clock security.

But avoiding a sentence of incarceration on that basis risks undermining the idea of equal treatment under the law, Moscow suggested.

"If I were the judge − and I don't know what a judge would do in this case − I would reject out of hand the concept that because he was once president, and because as a matter of policy the Secret Service guards former presidents, that therefore he can't go to jail," Moscow said.

The question would then become how to reconcile equal treatment with ensuring a former president's security, according to Moscow. The judge could get creative, for example by ordering the former president to stay in a hotel wing or at a military base, where he is isolated just like any other prisoner but still has Secret Service protection.

"You can structure things to achieve the proper result without conceding that the defendant has the upper hand," Moscow said.

Chances of immediate prison? 'Less than 1%'

Many convicted defendants are "remanded" pending sentencing, a process in which they are taken into custody while they await their sentence, Florence said.

But Florence didn't expect Merchan to give that order when it comes to Trump, and even if Merchan did, Trump would likely be able to get bail set by an appeals court in the thousands of dollars to stay free during his appeal. That's all the more likely if Trump receives a low sentence, since the appeal could take longer than his actual sentence, she said.

"The chances of him going to prison immediately, even if he's convicted in whatever, six weeks from now or whenever, are I would say less than 1% because he would immediately be released on bail pending appeal," according to Florence.

Eisen agreed Trump probably wouldn't be incarcerated by Election Day, even if he's convicted on all counts.

"I think he's extremely unlikely to be forced to serve that sentence pending appeal," Eisen said.