Exploring the Nuances Between “Make Guesses” and “Guess” in Effective Communication

When crafting a sentence that emphasizes the speaker's ongoing, multiple assumptions about their audience's knowledge, the choice between using “make guesses” and “guess” can significantly influence the clarity and precision of your message. This article dissects the nuances of these phrases and whether “make guesses” is more preferable to the simpler “guess” in formal writing contexts.

Emphasizing Multiple Assumptions

If the sentence aims to convey that the speaker is making multiple guesses throughout their speech, using “makes guesses” over “makes guesses about” is indeed more appropriate. For instance, consider the following sentences:

“While the speaker makes guesses about the knowledge her listeners have, there is no certainty.”

“While the speaker makes guesses about the knowledge her listeners have, there is no certainty.”

In the first sentence, the addition of “about” subtly clarifies that the speaker is making multiple guesses over the course of their speech. This phrasing, however, might not always be the most suitable, especially in a formal document or in academic writing such as a psychology paper.

Formal Writing Contexts

In formal pieces of writing, such as academic papers, it might be more appropriate to use the verb “assumes” or “presumes” to convey the idea of the speaker making assumptions about the listeners' knowledge. For example:

“While the speaker assumes the knowledge her listeners have, there is no certainty.”

“While the speaker presumes the knowledge her listeners have, there is no certainty.”

These alternatives carry the same meaning but are phrased in a more structured and formal manner, which may be more suitable for academic or technical contexts.

General Usage and Natural Flow

Joe Roberts provides insight into the natural flow of language. According to his perspective, the verb “guess” is typically used transitively, meaning it takes an object. In this context, “makes guesses about” sounds more natural and idiomatic, whereas “guesses about the knowledge” would be slightly off. This is perhaps why “makes guesses” is often preferred when emphasizing the plurality of the statements.

My personal opinion leans towards the preference of “makes guesses” as it not only conveys plurality but also lends a sense of liveliness and dynamism to the sentence. This phrasing suggests an ongoing process, akin to a quiz show, where the speaker is continually making guesses.

Expressing Plurality with “Guesses”

Another key consideration is the ability to express plurality with the verb "to guess.” In English, the verb "guess" does not naturally accommodate a plural form, meaning it cannot convey the idea that multiple guesses are being made. This is where the noun "guesses" comes in handy. In the given sentence:

“While the speaker makes guesses about the knowledge her listeners have, there is no certainty.”

The use of the noun “guesses” allows for the pluralization needed to indicate multiple guesses. Without this noun, the sentence structure and meaning would suffer.

Conclusion

In summary, the choice between “make guesses” and “guess” largely depends on the context and the intended meaning. For conveying multiple, ongoing guesses, “makes guesses” is a preferred choice. However, in formal or academic writing, “assumes” or “presumes” may be more appropriate. Understanding these nuances can greatly enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your written communication.