ものとする・
This formal construction adopts a whole statement as a working assumption or directs that something be treated as having a particular status. The assumption or status then provides the basis for analysis, calculation, classification, or another procedure.
A premise, not a claim of fact
ものとする tells the reader what to assume for the present analysis or procedure. It does not necessarily claim that the statement has been observed or proven true. Good context therefore makes clear both what is being assumed and why that assumption is useful.
An analytical assumption
分析では、各測定値は互いに独立であるものとする。
For the analysis, each measured value is assumed to be independent of the others.
AnalyzeThe sentence establishes a model assumption that will be used in the analysis; it does not report an observed result.
Connecting the premise to an action
Use ものとして when the sentence continues directly to a calculation, classification, or procedure carried out on that basis. In English, this is often translated as “assuming that,” “on the assumption that,” or “treating as.”
Assigning a working status
The construction can assign an item a status for a particular system or procedure, even when that status is not its ordinary everyday description.
今回の集計では、必要書類がそろわない申請は有効な申請ではないものとして扱う。
For this tabulation, applications lacking the required documents will be treated as invalid applications.
AnalyzeThe negative statement supplies the classification used for this particular procedure.
欠損した回答は無回答であるものとして、集計から除外した。
Missing responses were treated as unanswered and excluded from the tabulation.
AnalyzeThe assigned status explains the subsequent exclusion.
Assumption versus rule-setting
The same visible form, ものとする, can perform two different jobs. On this page it adopts a premise or assigns a treated status for later reasoning or handling. The neighboring rule-setting use formally establishes what must be done. In some administrative writing, a treated status can also have practical rule-like effects, so identify the sentence by its primary job and avoid genuinely ambiguous cases.
More examples
この試算では、為替レートは一年間変動しないものとする。
For this estimate, the exchange rate is assumed not to fluctuate for one year.
Analyze説明を簡単にするため、摩擦はないものとする。
To simplify the explanation, we will assume that there is no friction.
Analyze申告のない項目は、変更がなかったものとして処理する。
Items for which no declaration was made will be processed on the assumption that no change occurred.
Analyzeこの模型では、すべての部材が同じ重さであるものとして計算する。
In this model, the calculation assumes that all components have the same weight.
Analyze期限後に届いた回答は、今回の調査には含まれないものとして扱った。
Responses received after the deadline were treated as not being included in this survey.
Analyze以下では、利用者は必要な認証をすでに完了したものとする。
In what follows, users are assumed to have already completed the required authentication.
Analyze