are not necessarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are not necessarily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not always the case or that there are exceptions to a general rule. Example: "While many people believe that success is solely determined by hard work, it is important to note that talent and opportunity are not necessarily linked to effort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They are not necessarily right.

The Economist

They are not necessarily botanists.

The New Yorker

Biomarkers are not necessarily definitive.

The New York Times - Health

Makers, it appears, are not necessarily troublemakers.

The New Yorker

But we are not necessarily living better.

The New York Times

The realists are not necessarily indifferent.

The New York Times

These two aims are not necessarily incompatible.

Independent

Those are not necessarily my words".

The New Yorker

Criminal violations are not necessarily N.C.A.A. violations.

The New York Times - Sports

And the unindicted are not necessarily honest.

The Economist

Salafis are not necessarily fighters, however.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are not necessarily" to introduce nuance or exceptions to a general statement, avoiding overly broad generalizations. For instance, instead of saying "High scores guarantee success", consider "High scores "are not necessarily" a guarantee of success".

Common error

Avoid stacking negatives when using "are not necessarily". Phrases like "It is not unlikely that they "are not necessarily" wrong" can be confusing. Instead, rephrase for clarity: "They might be right".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are not necessarily" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to express that something is not an inevitable or guaranteed outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are not necessarily" is a grammatically sound and versatile adverbial phrase that introduces exceptions or qualifications to statements. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread use. It’s most frequently found in news and media contexts, signaling its broad applicability. When writing, use it to avoid overgeneralizations and to introduce nuance. Be mindful of not stacking negatives for clarity. Alternatives include "are not always" and "may not be". It is considered appropriate for both formal and informal registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are not always

Implies that something is true some of the time, but not consistently or universally.

are not invariably

Suggests that something does not always occur in every instance or situation.

are not uniformly

Indicates that something is not consistent across all cases or members of a group.

are not automatically

Emphasizes that something does not happen as a direct or inevitable consequence.

do not always have to be

Highlights that there isn't a constant imposition and suggests flexibility.

are not essentially

Indicates that something is not fundamentally or inherently true.

are not strictly

Suggests that the statement isn't accurate in a limited or precise sense.

are not exclusively

Points out that something isn't limited to just one thing or group.

are not unconditionally

Specifies that certain conditions must be met.

may not be

Expresses a possibility that something is not true or existent.

FAQs

How can I use "are not necessarily" in a sentence?

Use "are not necessarily" to indicate that something is not always the case or that there are exceptions to a general rule. For example, "Expensive products "are not necessarily" better than cheaper ones".

What's the difference between "are not necessarily" and "are not always"?

"Are not necessarily" suggests that something is not an inevitable consequence, whereas "are not always" suggests something isn't consistently true. For example, "Effective leaders "are not necessarily" the loudest", versus "Effective leaders "are not necessarily" extroverted".

What phrases can I use instead of "are not necessarily"?

You can use alternatives like "are not always", "are not invariably", or "may not be" depending on the context.

Is it wrong to use "are not necessarily" in formal writing?

No, it's perfectly acceptable. "Are not necessarily" is suitable for formal writing to introduce nuance or qualification. Its use is supported by numerous examples in reputable publications.