almost certainly true

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost certainly true" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a high degree of confidence in the truth of a statement or claim, while still acknowledging a small possibility of doubt. Example: "Based on the evidence presented, it is almost certainly true that the experiment will yield positive results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Almost certainly true.

The Economist

This is almost certainly true.

Independent

It's also almost certainly true.

The New Yorker

The second point is almost certainly true.

The Economist

Permanent Secretary That one's almost certainly true.

The Guardian

This is almost certainly true, but outright rejection of Netanyahu's proposal could be a strategic error.

The Guardian - Opinion

That is almost certainly true, and it is a double-edged truth.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A spokesman for Tchenguiz said it was "almost certainly true" he had met Chapman.

The Guardian

Horowitz once described himself as "the most hated ex-radical of my generation". This is almost certainly true.

University of California, Berkeley

But in fact it is almost certainly true, and we can know so without even doing any studies.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Of the whites polled, only 1percentt said it was true, 4percentt said it was possibly true and 91percentt said it was almost certainly not true.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost certainly true" to express a strong belief in something when you want to acknowledge a small possibility of being incorrect, which adds a nuance of intellectual honesty.

Common error

Avoid using "almost certainly true" when the evidence is weak or speculative. Overstating certainty can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost certainly true" functions as an adverbial modifier expressing a high degree of confidence or likelihood. It qualifies a statement, indicating that it is very likely to be true, though not with absolute certainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost certainly true" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to convey a strong belief with a slight reservation. Ludwig's analysis, which is also corroborated by Ludwig AI, confirms its correctness and frequent occurrence across diverse contexts, especially in news and media. When writing, it is best to use this phrase to convey confidence while acknowledging a small possibility of error. Alternatives such as "highly likely to be true" or "very likely to be accurate" may be used depending on the specific tone and context. Overall, this phrase is a valuable tool for expressing nuanced opinions and informed judgments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly likely to be true

Emphasizes the high probability of truth, using "highly likely" instead of "almost certainly".

very likely to be accurate

Focuses on the accuracy of information, substituting "accurate" for "true".

in all probability true

Uses "in all probability" to express a strong likelihood, providing a more formal tone.

most likely true

A more common and slightly less emphatic way of saying something is likely true.

virtually certain to be true

Emphasizes the near certainty of the truth, adding a stronger sense of confidence.

highly probable that it's true

Replaces "almost certainly" with "highly probable", focusing on the probability aspect.

it's very close to the truth

Indicates a high degree of approximation to the truth, rather than absolute certainty.

practically guaranteed to be true

Suggests a strong assurance of truth, using "practically guaranteed" for emphasis.

safe to say it's true

Implies a reasonable level of confidence in the truth, suggesting it is a safe assumption.

it's a near certainty that it's true

Rephrases the idea to highlight the "near certainty", making the confidence explicit.

FAQs

How can I use "almost certainly true" in a sentence?

You can use "almost certainly true" to express a high degree of confidence in a statement, like: "Given the evidence, it's "almost certainly true" that the project will succeed."

What can I say instead of "almost certainly true"?

You can use alternatives like "highly likely to be true", "very likely to be accurate", or "in all probability true" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "almost certainly true" or "almost definitely true"?

Both phrases are commonly used, but "almost certainly true" is generally considered more formal and precise. "Almost definitely true" is acceptable in more informal contexts.

What's the difference between "almost certainly true" and "certainly true"?

"Almost certainly true" indicates a very high degree of confidence but allows for a small possibility of error. "Certainly true" implies absolute certainty, leaving no room for doubt.