What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
posits
Example
The author posits that the decline in bee populations is due to the use of pesticides. [posits: verb]
Example
One of the key posits of the theory is that humans are inherently selfish. [posits: noun]
hypothesize
Example
The researchers hypothesized that the new drug would be effective in treating the disease. [hypothesized: verb]
Example
My hypothesis is that the plant will grow better in sunlight than in shade. [hypothesis: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hypothesize is more commonly used than posits in everyday language. Hypothesize is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while posits is less common and is primarily used in academic or scientific writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between posits and hypothesize?
Posits is more formal than hypothesize. Posits is typically used in academic or scientific contexts, while hypothesize can be used in both formal and informal contexts.