be very confident of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be very confident of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a strong belief or assurance about something. Example: "I am very confident of my ability to complete this project successfully."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

It goes without saying that Sri Lanka will be very confident of defending this.

The Guardian - Sport

"We'd be very confident of going in now with 200,000 already sold," Gillespie said.

The Guardian - Sport

An unnamed source close to the Turkish government told Reuters: "[The] statements are very vague and they themselves do not seem to be very confident of their arguments.

The Guardian

"I believe on the results of two terms in government running a minority government, I would be very confident of being able to form a stable government.," Ms. Clark, 55, told Television New Zealand Ltd. from Auckland.

The New York Times

Unlike most forms of dementia: "When we see someone with typical PSP, we can be very confident of what is happening in their brains; the buildup of an abnormal protein called tau.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The news means O2 must be very confident of its 3G network.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

She is very confident of her ability.

The New York Times

"We are very confident of our legal advice," she said.

The New York Times

So I'm very confident of doing well.

The New York Times - Sports

He is very confident of staying in power.

The Guardian

Ken and his team are very confident of winning.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be very confident of", ensure that the object of your confidence is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "I am very confident of success", specify "I am very confident of success in this project".

Common error

Avoid using "be very confident of" when the situation warrants caution or humility. Overconfidence can undermine credibility, especially when outcomes are uncertain. For instance, instead of stating "I am very confident of winning", consider "I am optimistic about our chances of winning".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be very confident of" functions as a subject complement, describing the state or feeling of the subject. It expresses a strong degree of assurance or belief regarding a particular outcome, ability, or situation. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be very confident of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to express a strong belief or assurance, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's versatile enough for both formal and informal contexts, with a neutral register. While prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business domains, it's advisable to use it judiciously, ensuring the object of confidence is clear and that the situation warrants such certainty. Alternatives such as "be absolutely certain of" or "have complete faith in" may offer nuanced expressions of assurance. By avoiding overconfidence and selecting the right context, speakers can effectively utilize "be very confident of" to convey their intended message. Furthermore, as the number of example sentences extracted from various sources indicates, this is a phrase frequently found in reliable English sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be absolutely certain of

Substitutes "confident" with "certain", indicating a lack of doubt.

be extremely confident about

Emphasizes the high degree of confidence using "extremely" instead of "very" and changing the preposition to "about".

feel assured about

Uses "assured" instead of "confident", focusing on the feeling of security.

be utterly convinced of

Replaces "confident" with "convinced", suggesting a firm belief with a higher degree of certainty.

have a strong conviction in

Emphasizes the strength of belief or conviction regarding something.

be sure of success in

Highlights confidence specifically related to achieving success.

have complete faith in

Uses "faith" instead of "confidence", implying a trust-based assurance.

expect with full assurance

Combines expectation with assurance, emphasizing a confident anticipation.

anticipate with certainty

Shifts the focus to anticipation, implying a confident expectation of a future event.

rely on with confidence

Focuses on the act of relying on something with a sense of confidence in its dependability.

FAQs

How can I use "be very confident of" in a sentence?

You can use "be very confident of" to express a strong belief or assurance about something. For example, "I am very confident of my team's ability to deliver the project on time".

What are some alternatives to "be very confident of"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "be absolutely certain of", "have complete faith in", or "feel assured about", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "be very confident of"?

It's appropriate to use "be very confident of" when you have a strong basis for your belief or expectation, such as past successes, thorough preparation, or reliable evidence. However, avoid using it when the situation requires humility or acknowledges inherent uncertainties.

Is "be very confident of" formal or informal?

"Be very confident of" can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in more formal settings, you might consider stronger synonyms like "be utterly convinced of" or "have a strong conviction in" for added emphasis.