Sheaman3773 comments on "I don't know." - Less Wrong
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Assuming that I did not miss anything, what is wrong with phrasing your best guess as your best guess when you give it to the inquiring person? e.g.:
"How many apples are in a tree outside?"
"I'd guess/think/suppose/estimate 10-1000."
At which point they can either proceed, knowing that you gave no guarantees for the information, or inquire further to determine your certainty and then proceed.
A lot of people would take a definite answer as an indication of direct knowledge. Is it rational to assume that no one has direct knowledge when given a definite answer?