a most likely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a most likely" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "most likely" is an adverbial phrase that does not require an article. Example: "It is most likely that the event will be postponed due to the weather."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

A: Most likely not.

The New Yorker

A: Most likely you'd be asked to produce receipts when filing a claim and when you check in you'll need to describe the contents of your bag.

Huffington Post

PEGylated microspheres have a most likely swelling surface owing to the presence of PEG hydrophilic chains.

Biomaterials

Yet on Tuesday, her teacher gave her a "most likely to become a terrorist" award.

The Washington Post

Both the calculation and experimental results showed that this new mixture could be regarded as a most likely drop-in substitute for R22 in many applications.

International Journal of Refrigeration

But if there were a Most Likely to Succeed in Silicon Valley Award, it might have gone to an 11-year-old boy from Oakland, Calif.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

In this model, CENP-A assembly would be expected to occur downstream of UNG2 action, such that CENP-A most likely would not bind directly to UNG2.

Plosone

But yesterday, several people who worked closely with his campaign proffered a most-likely-to-succeed list.

The New York Times

Cargo transport demand (quantity and freight rate) was then anticipated for a most-likely voyage most presenting each trade area.

Journal of Shipping and Trade

Stochastic cargo transport demand (quantity and freight rate) was then anticipated for a most-likely voyage most presenting each trade area.

Journal of Shipping and Trade

Of 61 quantified variables (including adult bee physiology, pathogen loads, and pesticide levels), no single measure emerged as a most-likely cause of CCD.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "a most likely" in formal writing; instead, use "most likely" without the article "a". This is grammatically correct and more widely accepted.

Common error

The phrase "a most likely" often arises from a misunderstanding of how adverbs function. "Most likely" already acts as an adverb modifying a verb, so adding an article is grammatically redundant and incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a most likely" is generally intended to function as an adverbial modifier, expressing a high degree of probability. However, according to Ludwig AI, the construction is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in favor of the standard form, "most likely".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a most likely" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "most likely", without the article "a". While examples can be found in various sources, including news and scientific publications, its usage is infrequent and often reflects less formal or edited writing. It's advisable to use alternatives like "most likely", "very likely", or "highly probable", especially in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most likely

This is the standard and grammatically correct way to express the same idea, omitting the unnecessary article "a".

very probable

Replaces "likely" with "probable" and "most" with "very", emphasizing the high degree of certainty.

highly likely

Emphasizes the high degree of likelihood using the adverb "highly".

highly probable

Combines "highly" with "probable" for a more formal tone indicating a strong possibility.

very likely

Uses "very" instead of "most" to modify "likely", keeping the meaning similar.

quite likely

Indicates a significant probability, though slightly less emphatic than "most likely".

in all likelihood

Rephrases the concept as an adverbial phrase indicating a strong expectation.

almost certainly

Indicates a very high degree of confidence in the outcome.

likely to happen

Expresses likelihood as a potential event or outcome.

presumably

Implies that something is likely based on presumption or available evidence.

FAQs

Is "a most likely" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "a most likely" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct form is "most likely" without the article "a".

What does "most likely" mean?

The phrase "most likely" means having the highest probability of occurring or being true. It suggests a strong possibility or expectation.

When should I use "most likely" in a sentence?

Use "most likely" to indicate that something is very probable or has a high chance of happening. For example, "It is "most likely" that the meeting will be postponed."

What can I say instead of "a most likely"?

Since the phrase "a most likely" is not correct, you can use alternatives like "most likely", "very likely", or "highly probable" to convey the same meaning.