all but guaranteed

USAGE SUMMARY

"all but guarantee" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used as a way of saying that something is very likely to happen, and can even be used as a way of saying that something is certain to happen. For example: "The odds of him winning are so high that it all but guarantees his victory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Success seemed all but guaranteed.

The New York Times

Disappointment is all but guaranteed".

The New York Times - Health

Profits, Tozzoli figured, were all but guaranteed.

The New York Times - Magazine

The managers all but guaranteed it.

The Guardian - Sport

A Nobel prize is all but guaranteed.

The Guardian

Social success is all but guaranteed.

The Guardian

The American team was all but guaranteed a difficult draft.

The New York Times

Safety Victor Green all but guaranteed that they would qualify.

The New York Times - Sports

It's all but guaranteed to release your inner dancehall queen.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Another is all but guaranteed in the super combined.

The Guardian - Sport

They're all but guaranteed a felt-tip squiggle.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all but guaranteed" to express a very high degree of confidence in a future event, but acknowledge a slight possibility of an alternative outcome. Avoid using it when absolute certainty is required.

Common error

Avoid using "all but guaranteed" when the outcome is genuinely uncertain or relies heavily on unpredictable factors. Instead, use phrases that reflect a degree of uncertainty, such as "likely" or "probable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all but guaranteed" functions as a qualifier or intensifier modifying a noun or noun phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates a very high degree of probability, close to certainty, but acknowledges a slight possibility of an alternative outcome. Its function is adjectival, describing the likelihood of a particular event or result.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "all but guaranteed" is a commonly used adjective phrase to express a high degree of probability, as stated by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and finds frequent application in news and media, as well as other sources. While it implies near certainty, it's crucial to remember it doesn't denote absolute certainty. To diversify writing, related phrases like "virtually certain" or "almost certain" can be used. Remember to avoid overstating certainty in contexts where predictability is low.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually certain

Emphasizes the extremely high degree of probability, close to absolute certainty.

almost certain

Indicates a very strong likelihood, with only a slight chance of not happening.

virtually assured

A variation on "virtually certain", emphasizing the assurance aspect.

practically guaranteed

Highlights the practical assurance of something occurring.

as good as certain

Suggests that the outcome is so predictable that it's effectively already determined.

assured

Implies confidence and certainty in the outcome.

a foregone conclusion

Indicates that the result is inevitable and predetermined.

highly probable

Highlights a strong chance of occurrence, focusing on the likelihood.

tantamount to a guarantee

Describes something that is essentially equivalent to a formal guarantee.

on track to happen

Highlights the trajectory of an event that makes it very likely to occur.

FAQs

How can I use "all but guaranteed" in a sentence?

You can use "all but guaranteed" to express that something is very likely to happen. For example, "With their current lead, their victory is "all but guaranteed"".

What are some alternatives to saying "all but guaranteed"?

Alternatives include "virtually certain", "almost certain", or "as good as certain", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "all but guaranteed" in formal writing?

Yes, "all but guaranteed" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in news and media, where conveying a strong likelihood is important. Just ensure the context supports a high degree of probability.

What's the difference between "all but guaranteed" and "guaranteed"?

"All but guaranteed" implies a very high probability but not absolute certainty, while "guaranteed" signifies complete certainty. Use "all but guaranteed" when there's a remote chance of an alternative outcome.