as we were likely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as we were likely" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express a probability or expectation, but it lacks clarity and completeness. Example: "As we were likely to encounter difficulties, we prepared thoroughly for the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That was as close to a happy ending as we were likely to get from The Missing, which has finished after eight weeks of unbearably tense, unimaginably grim action.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Mostly Mozart series is providing as good a sense as we are likely to get of what it must have been like.

The New York Times

Even as we're likely to become ever more digital.

Yale University

An illusion, no doubt, but it's as close as we're likely to get.

The New Yorker

That's as much motive as we're likely to find.

The New Yorker

This 185-minute version is as close as we're likely to get to the original cut.

The Guardian

But the solution is not, as we are likely to see on Wednesday, just to slash the entitlements.

The Guardian - Money

Still, this is about as close to an overall view of pre-Victorian London as we're likely to get.

The Guardian

The text released by Pyongyang comes about as close to an apology as we are likely to see.

The Guardian

This doesn't include dustings or ice events, as we are likely to have some of those, too.

The Washington Post

An illusion, no doubt, but it's as close as we're likely to get. Louis Menand, a staff writer since 2001, was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2016.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "as we were likely" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and grammatically sound alternatives like "as we were expected to" or "as was likely" to convey probability or expectation.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "as we were likely" with similar-sounding but grammatically correct phrases like "as was likely". Ensure the verb tense aligns with the intended meaning to avoid miscommunication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as we were likely" functions as an introductory clause intended to set up an expectation or probability. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI marks it as incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "as we were likely" may appear in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Its intended purpose is to express a probability or expectation, but it's best to opt for grammatically sound alternatives like "as we were expected to" or "as was likely". Due to its incorrectness, the phrase is unsuitable for formal writing and should be avoided in professional contexts. The provided examples demonstrate the phrase's appearance in diverse sources, but this doesn't validate its correctness; rather, it underscores the importance of adhering to standard grammar rules for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as we were expected to

Replaces "likely" with "expected", focusing on anticipation rather than probability.

as we were probably going to

Adds "probably going to", making the expectation more explicit.

as it was probable that we would

Transforms the phrase into a more formal and verbose construction.

as it was foreseeable that we would

Replaces "likely" with "foreseeable", emphasizing the predictability of the event.

as we would have probably

Uses the conditional perfect tense to express a past probability.

as we could have foreseen

Shifts the focus to foresight and possibility, rather than likelihood.

as we anticipated

Expresses the idea of expectation rather than likelihood.

as was predictable for us

Highlights the predictability of an event for a specific group.

as we might have guessed

Emphasizes a guess or assumption about an event.

as we were to presume

Replaces likelihood with presumption, suggesting a belief without concrete evidence.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "as we were likely"?

You can use alternatives such as "as we were "expected to"", "as we were "probably"", or "as it was "likely"" depending on the context.

Is "as we were likely" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "as we were likely" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It is better to use alternatives like "as we were expected to" or "as was likely".

How can I use "as we were expected to" in a sentence?

You can use "as we were expected to" to indicate something that was anticipated or foreseen. For example, "As we were expected to encounter delays, we planned extra time for the project".

What is the difference between "as we were likely" and "as was likely"?

"As we were likely" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "as was "likely"", which indicates something that was probable. For example, "As was likely, the meeting ran over time".