Writing is often a difficult process. Writers can face numerous issues, from a lack of specificity to insufficient length. What if there were a cure-all that could improve almost any aspect of composition? Enter the hypothetical example, a surprisingly versatile solution. At the most basic level, a hypothetical example is an imaginary situation that allows writers to explore topics in more depth. When writing about whether it is more productive to get up early or stay up late, a writer might examine the schedule of a made-up person who attempts both lifestyles. Since this example does not use statistics or a real person, it is hypothetical. 

However, before diving more deeply into what makes hypotheticals work, it is important to understand their usage. One common issue writers face, as mentioned above, is specificity. It can be easy to define an abstract concept like effective writing using words like simple and concrete, but do those words mean anything on their own? To unfamiliar readers, the answer is likely no, as explained by Clements (n.d.). He claimed that readers need more information to fully understand a writer’s points. This makes sense, since readers and writers do not share the same knowledge. However, Fontenot et al. (2022) cautioned that the information delivered in hypotheticals needs to be tailored to both the topic and audience. Readers of a psychology paper likely do not want examples from the IT field, and vice versa. Specificity means providing information readers want or need, thus calming students’ worries that their writing is too general.

Another concern that often arises for students is the risk of AI generation detection. AI generation detection software is not perfect; it can come up with “false positives,” meaning that it claims something was written by AI that was not. Even if the accusation is untrue, it can cause serious stress and inconvenience for writers. However, the PG AI Task Force (n.d.) noted that AI writing often lacks a distinct voice. AI can write with perfect grammar, but it will not show any personal touches that make writing shine. When writing is too general, AI detection tools may take that as a sign of AI use. Using hypothetical examples, writers can inject their perspectives into writing without using the first person (words like I, me, and my). That way, professors can be confident that students are the true writers of their work.

Professors often look for length in essays as well as AI generation. However, sometimes a topic has already been exhausted a few pages before the specified page limit. When this happens, hypothetical examples are great tools. In fact, Fontenot et al. (2022) stated that they are one of the most interesting ways to add more length to an essay. Humans tend to like stories, and hypothetical examples provide a way to include a narrative without going off-topic or verging into full-on fiction writing. Thus, students stuck on length can deepen their essays while meeting professor requirements.

Essays are not the only pieces of writing that can benefit from hypothetical examples. In the legal field, these examples are common because they “can make a straightforward legal update more engaging, insightful and memorable” (Bell, 2019, para. 2). Many professional reports and other documents can feel dry and unfocused. Inserting a made-up example can remedy this, turning a report from an easily-deleted email into a conversation starter. Many employers and supervisors would be impressed by writing that holds such potential. 

However, there are good and bad ways to use hypothetical examples. To fix the issues of abstract writing or false AI detection, hypotheticals must contain concrete details. To work well within a professional or academic assignment context, they must stay on topic. To help generate length, they must span a couple sentences or more—without falling into the trap of rambling. If this paragraph feels too abstract, consider the following concrete illustrations.

For example, imagine a student is writing an essay about the cliché “the best thing since sliced bread.” They wish to prove that sliced bread is the superior way to consume carbohydrates.

Here is a poor hypothetical example: “Sliced bread has greatly improved human life, making nutrition simpler for people with busy modern schedules. Imagine a person hungry for a quick, simple meal. They would not reach for other inventions, like computers or cars. Instead, they would reach for sliced bread to make a sandwich.”

This example starts well because it covers a plausible scenario that audiences can relate to: being hungry. However, by using computers or cars as alternatives, this student has gone off-topic. Those are other inventions, but they do not contribute to the idea that sliced bread is the best way to eat carbs, making the argument nonsensical.

Here is a good hypothetical example: “Imagine a person hungry for a quick, simple meal. A hungry person would usually prefer to reach for sliced bread rather than a full loaf, which must be cut by hand. This makes sliced bread a more accessible option than other types of carbohydrates, which take longer to prepare.”

This is a better example because the student has stayed on topic and presented a concrete scenario that an audience will easily understand. This way, the student has supported their argument effectively.

Hypothetical examples are a primary way to help readers understand the main points of a paper, report, or other piece of writing. With their versatility, they can alleviate several common writing issues. The next time that writing gets tough, consider if a simple example would help!

References

Bell, A. (2019, June 26). Hypotheticals – The benefits of imagining things. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hypotheticals-benefits-imagining-things-adam-j-bell 

Clements, K. (n.d.). Being specific – Purdue University Global Academic Success Center. Purdue University Global Academic Success Center. https://purdueglobalwriting.center/being-specific-2/ 

Fontenot, A.; Rodrigue, S.; Waller, W. M.; Rogers, W. (2022). Writing rhetorically: Framing first year writing. LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network. https://louis.pressbooks.pub/englishcomp1/

PG AI Task Force (n.d.). Student FAQs. Purdue University Global. https://sites.google.com/purdueglobal.edu/pg-artificialintelligencetaskf/student-resources/student-faqs?authuser=0