What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
surmised
Example
I surmised that she was upset because of her body language. [surmised: verb]
Example
Based on the evidence, we can surmise that the suspect was at the scene of the crime. [surmise: noun]
conjecture
Example
The professor's conjecture about the origins of the universe was groundbreaking. [conjecture: noun]
Example
We can only conjecture what the outcome of the experiment will be. [conjecture: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Surmised is more commonly used than conjecture in everyday language, especially in informal contexts. Conjecture is more commonly used in academic or formal writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between surmised and conjecture?
Conjecture is more formal and academic than surmised, and is often used in scientific or scholarly contexts. Surmised is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
