Basic Details
Word: Hypotheses
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The plural of hypothesis: ideas or possible explanations that can be tested, especially by experiment.
Synonyms: theories, suppositions, guesses
Antonyms: facts, proofs
How to Spell Hypotheses
Syllables: hy - poth - e - ses
Tricky part: The singular hypothesis ends in is; the plural changes is to es. The plural ending is said 'eez' but spelt es.
Watch out for: hypothesees, hypothises, hypotheces
Memory tip: Words like crisis and oasis swap is for es in the plural: crises, oases, hypotheses. One hypothesis, many hypotheses.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Our science group tested two hypotheses about why ice melts faster in salt water.
Example 2: Scientists had many hypotheses about the dinosaurs' extinction before the asteroid theory became widely accepted.
Example 3: Good hypotheses can be checked by experiment.
Fun Fact
Hypothesis comes from Greek words meaning to place under, as a foundation on which an argument is built.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Choose the correct letters to fill in the blanks:
hypoth_s_s
a) i, i
b) a, e
c) i, e
d) e, e
Show answer
d) e, e. The plural takes es in place of is, and the letter after th is e.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word hypotheses as used in the sentence:
The students put forward three hypotheses about why the plants near the window grew taller.
a) measurements
b) theories
c) results
d) facts
Show answer
b) theories. Hypotheses are ideas still to be tested, so theories is closest; facts are already proven.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. aparatus 2. hypotheses 3. criterea 4. phenomenan
a) ideas put forward to be tested
b) something that can be seen to happen or exist
c) standards used to judge something
d) the equipment used for a particular purpose
Show answer
a) ideas put forward to be tested. Phenomenon ends in on, criteria in ia and apparatus has a double p, which leaves hypotheses as the correct spelling.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A scientist checks a hypothesis mainly by ____.
a) asking a friend
b) copying earlier notes
c) carrying out experiments
d) guessing the result
Show answer
c) carrying out experiments
2. In a science report, hypotheses are usually written ____.
a) on the cover page only
b) after the prize-giving
c) in a different language
d) before the experiment
Show answer
d) before the experiment
