are certain for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are certain for" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express certainty regarding a specific subject or situation, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "They are certain for the outcome of the project" does not effectively communicate the intended message.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"It has been said that death and taxes are certain; for some it is also certain they will never meet the threshold," he said.

The Guardian

Chinese general Sun Tzu wrote in his famous treatise The Art of War: "Enlightened rulers and good generals who are able to obtain intelligent agents as spies are certain for great achievements".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Death is certain for all.

The Guardian - Film

I don't think anyone is certain for selection".

The Guardian - Sport

That Jacob Zuma is the next president of South Africa has been certain for some time.

The New York Times

One thing has been certain for a while now: He tweets like one".

The New Yorker

The actual bill will not be certain for some time, until corporations file detailed tax returns.

The New York Times

It is certain, for instance, that Congress was not always told the truth about what the NSA was up to.

The Guardian

Emma [ Pooley is certain for a spot in the team but I think the course is too tame.

The Guardian - Sport

This much is certain: for nearly three decades, she bought cigarettes from the newsstand across the street from her house.

The New York Times

One thing is certain for the humble 1p piece.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express certainty, prefer using established phrases like "are certain about" or "are sure of" instead of "are certain for".

Common error

Avoid using "for" after "certain" when expressing confidence or assurance. The correct prepositions are "about", "of", or "that" depending on the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are certain for" functions as an adjective phrase attempting to express a state of conviction or sureness regarding something. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights this by recommending alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are certain for" is an attempt to convey assurance, but Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. More appropriate alternatives include "are certain about", "are sure of", or "are confident in". Although the phrase appears across diverse sources, the limited number of examples and grammatical issues suggest avoiding it in formal writing. The register is generally neutral, but given the availability of better options, it is recommended to choose grammatically sound alternatives for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are sure about

Replaces "certain for" with "sure about", a more grammatically correct and common construction to express confidence.

are confident in

Uses "confident in" instead of "certain for", indicating a strong belief or assurance in something.

are assured of

Employs "assured of" to convey a sense of guaranteed outcome or belief, correcting the grammatical structure.

are convinced of

Substitutes with "convinced of", highlighting a firm belief based on evidence or reasoning.

are positive about

Replaces the phrase with "positive about", indicating optimism and confidence regarding a specific matter.

are definite about

Uses "definite about" to express a clear and certain stance, improving grammatical correctness.

have no doubt about

Employs "have no doubt about" to express a complete lack of uncertainty, offering a stronger alternative.

are without a doubt

Uses "are without a doubt" to express certainty and eliminate any ambiguity.

are guaranteed to

Replaces the phrase to indicate something is certain to happen or be true.

are bound to

Uses "are bound to" to suggest inevitability or a high probability, correcting the grammatical form.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "certain" to express assurance?

Use "certain about", "certain of", or "certain that" instead of "certain for". For example, "I am certain about my decision" or "I am certain that it will rain" are correct.

What's a good alternative to "are certain for"?

Better alternatives include "are sure about", "are confident in", or "are assured of", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I am certain for this outcome"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The correct usage is "I am certain about this outcome" or "I am certain of this outcome".

What is the difference between "certain of" and "certain about"?

"Certain of" and "certain about" are often interchangeable, but "certain of" is typically used with nouns or pronouns, while "certain about" can be used with more general topics or situations. For example, "I am certain of his success" vs. "I am certain about the plan".