educated guess

Discuss this oxymoron in the comments below.

7.5/10 - (14 votes)

Grneff says:

August 23, 2011 at 8:59 am

To be educated implies that you have background knowledge and relevant information. A guess is an assumption or answer given based on little or no knowledge. This is an especially harmful oxymoron to use when applying to a hypothesis in science. Because it implies that a hypothesis is acceptable even if based upon little relevant information. This leads to much wasted time testing unrelated or marginally relevant concepts.
HBains says:

March 28, 2013 at 12:04 am

Not really. You are making a big assumption that most people make educated guess with no knowledge of that subject. Educated guess, in my opinion, is one based on a level of understanding of the subject where a person who for some reason cannot fully predict a result but can deduce or estimate the same using his/her knowledge or experience. To call a guess an educated guess without understanding the subject is wrong. But I don’t agree putting both these words in the same category. Educated guess should not be an oxymoron just because people tend to incorrectly call their guesses “educated guesses”.
boss_level says:

September 25, 2013 at 10:21 am

it’s so confusing
boss_level says:

September 25, 2013 at 10:21 am

I agree with HB

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