It is very likely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "It is very likely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a high probability or strong likelihood of something happening or being true. Example: "Based on the current data, it is very likely that the project will be completed ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is very likely impossible to get them off".

The Guardian

It is very likely, because the price is free".

The New York Times

It is very likely that the two signatures are physically related.

Geoscience Letters

It is very likely that plant metabolism has an important role in MeNP biosynthesis.

Nanoscale Research Letters

It is very likely".

Vice

It is very likely you are not.

Huffington Post

It is very likely that China will grow faster.

Huffington Post

It is very likely to induce cataract.

BMC Ophthalmology

It is very likely that GATK's Unified Genotyper made the wrong genotype calls on these positions.

BMC Genomics

It is very likely that the chain length of the alkyl group is the responsible factor.

Environmental Health Perspectives

It is very likely that advertisements by health technology producers stand behind them" (Int #13).

Health Research Policy and Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "It is very likely" to express a strong belief or expectation based on evidence or current circumstances, avoiding absolute certainty unless definitively proven.

Common error

Avoid using "It is very likely" when the evidence is weak or speculative; instead, use phrases that indicate a lower degree of certainty, such as "it is possible" or "it may be the case".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "It is very likely" functions as an epistemic modal. It expresses a speaker's judgment about the probability of a situation or event. Ludwig AI shows its usage in both scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

21%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "It is very likely" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a strong probability. Ludwig AI confirms its regular use across various sources, primarily scientific and news media. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, remember to ensure the level of confidence aligns with the available evidence. Consider alternatives like "it is highly probable" or "chances are high" to refine your expression of likelihood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It is highly probable

Emphasizes the high degree of probability using "highly" instead of "very".

It is quite probable

Substitutes "very" with "quite", indicating a slightly lower but still significant probability.

It is almost certain

Indicates an even stronger degree of likelihood, bordering on certainty.

Chances are high

Uses a more informal expression to convey a strong likelihood.

It is strongly suggested

Shifts the focus to evidence suggesting a high likelihood, rather than stating it directly.

It seems almost inevitable

Implies that an event is very likely to happen and difficult to avoid.

The odds are in favor of

Uses a betting analogy to suggest that something is more likely to happen than not.

It is reasonably expected

Suggests that based on current understanding, the outcome is foreseeable.

The probability is high

Uses more technical language to convey a high degree of likelihood.

One can anticipate

Implies that something is going to occur, although with less strength

FAQs

How can I use "It is very likely" in a sentence?

Use "It is very likely" to indicate a high probability of something occurring. For example, "It is very likely that the chain length of the alkyl group is the responsible factor".

What are some alternatives to "It is very likely"?

You can use phrases like "it is highly probable", "it is quite probable", or "chances are high" to express a similar level of likelihood.

Is it better to say "It is very likely" or "It is likely"?

"It is very likely" emphasizes a stronger probability compared to "it is likely". The choice depends on the degree of certainty you want to convey.

Can "It is very likely" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "It is very likely" is suitable for formal writing, although more formal alternatives such as "it is highly probable" might be preferred in certain contexts.