and likely so

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "and likely so" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is probably true or expected to happen, often in response to a previous statement. Example: "The project has faced numerous challenges, and likely so, it will take longer to complete than initially planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

If the officers involved had taken a step back, Thomas would still be alive, and likely so would Donald.

Vice

We know you spent all weekend crying over the news that Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have broken up -- and likely so did the Biebs.

Huffington Post

When, and if, we discover that there are sentient beings out there, we may rejoice, but for all practical purposes, we will still be alone, and likely so for many millennia to come.

Huffington Post

The annihilation of Israel is in no one's interest, not even the Arabs, who would then have to contend with thousands of suddenly unemployed terrorists (and likely, so would Europe, as that would be the next logical stop to recreate their Caliphate - this has been spoken of by Muslim leaders many times).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

We remember these films fondly and most likely, so do you, unless of course you have a heart made from moon rock.

Vice

Contaminant interactions with different molecular targets (i.e., "side effects") also imply that promiscuity of pharmacophores is possible and even likely, so we should not assume that contaminant bioactivity is necessarily isolated to any single biological end point.

Environmental Science & Technology

We apply this projection to AICC calculations in two different ways: 1) assuming that all noncanonical dinucleotides are equally likely, so that ; and 2) using empirical frequencies.

Genome Biology and Evolution

It described the information Zimbabwe provided as "false, and likely intentionally so".

The New York Times

The Kimberley team also found that Zimbabwe had provided it with information that was "false, and likely intentionally so".

The New York Times

Apple has complied with government information requests for years, and likely did so in this case.

TechCrunch

Moving offline data online is a painstaking process, and likely more so in the slow-moving educational space.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing with alternatives such as "and probably so" or "and most likely" for variety or emphasis.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "and likely so" can sound slightly formal in very casual settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "probably" or "most likely" in informal conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "and likely so" serves as a conjunction phrase, linking two clauses and indicating that the second clause is a probable or expected outcome of the first. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "and likely so" functions as a conjunction phrase indicating a probable outcome or logical inference. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct, though relatively rare in usage. Its register is neutral, making it suitable for news articles and scientific writing. When composing content, it's helpful to choose more informal alternatives in less formal conversations. While "and likely so" is considered to be perfectly correct, it might be useful to explore similar expressions like "and probably so" or "and most likely" for stylistic diversity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

and probably so

Replaces "likely" with "probably", indicating a slightly higher degree of certainty.

and very likely

Emphasizes the likelihood with the addition of "very".

and most likely

Similar to "and likely so", but with a slightly more formal tone and emphasis.

and presumably so

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

and expectedly so

Implies that something is happening as it was expected to happen.

and understandably so

Adds a sense of reason or justification to why something is likely.

and predictably so

Indicates something was anticipated based on prior knowledge or patterns.

and conceivably so

Suggests that something is possible or imaginable.

and conceivably that's the case

Adds a slightly more descriptive and explanatory tone.

and one would expect so

Expresses what is generally anticipated or considered reasonable.

FAQs

How can I use "and likely so" in a sentence?

Use "and likely so" to indicate that something is probably true or expected, often as a consequence of a previous statement. For example: "The project has faced numerous delays, and likely so, it will take longer than expected to complete."

What's a more formal alternative to "and likely so"?

A more formal alternative is "and most likely". This phrase maintains a professional tone while conveying a similar meaning of high probability.

Is there a difference between "and probably so" and "and likely so"?

The difference is subtle. "And probably so" suggests a slightly higher degree of certainty compared to "and likely so", but they are often interchangeable.

When should I avoid using "and likely so"?

Avoid using "and likely so" in very informal settings where it might sound overly formal. Simpler alternatives like "probably" or "most likely" may be more appropriate in casual conversations.