certain at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certain at" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may lead to confusion without additional context. Example: "I am certain at this moment that we will succeed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

I'm not certain at all.

The New York Times - Sports

Only a few things appear certain at this point.

The New York Times

So what if nothing was certain, at this stage?

The Guardian - Books

Without chemotherapy, though, death is certain, at the hands of the leukemia itself.

The New York Times

The city's long-term viability was far from certain at the time.

The New Yorker

It is impossible to know for certain, at this stage, whether their wish will be fulfilled.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

To appeal to those men, certain at-home trimmers are specially designed for hair in the nether regions.

The New York Times

"Lead poisoning is a problem that is highly concentrated in certain communities and certain at-risk groups," he said.

The New York Times

We know certain at-risk groups are using ProtonMail to communicate and there are actors out there who would benefit from disrupting their communications.

TechCrunch

These viruses can also cause severe ALRI in certain at-risk groups.

BMC Infectious Diseases

This bears the potential of inducing fluid overload and pulmonary edema in certain at-risk patients.

BMC Anesthesiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing certainty, use the more common and grammatically correct phrases such as "certain about", "sure of", or "confident in" instead of "certain at".

Common error

Avoid using "at" after "certain". The correct prepositions to use with "certain" are "about", "of", or "in", depending on the context. For instance, say "I am certain about the outcome" instead of "I am certain at the outcome".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain at" functions as an adjective attempting to describe a state of conviction or assurance related to a specific point in time or a particular condition. Ludwig AI notes that this phrase is not considered correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

25%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedia

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "certain at" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI categorizes it as grammatically incorrect. Standard English prefers alternatives such as "certain about", "sure of", or "confident in", depending on the context. Although frequently used in News & Media and Science, its incorrectness makes it less suitable for formal contexts. Therefore, opting for more conventional phrases ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy in writing. While the phrase does occur, it's advisable to avoid it to maintain grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

certain about

More common preposition to express certainty.

sure of

Focuses on having confidence or conviction.

confident in

Emphasizes trust or reliance on something.

positive about

Highlights a favorable outlook or belief.

convinced of

Expresses a firm belief based on evidence.

assured of

Implies a guarantee or promise.

definite about

Indicates a clear and unambiguous stance.

undeniably

Expresses a situation that cannot be denied or disputed.

without a doubt

Emphasizes the absence of uncertainty.

beyond question

Suggests something is irrefutable or unquestionable.

FAQs

What is the correct preposition to use with "certain"?

The correct prepositions to use with "certain" are "about", "of", and "in", depending on the context. For example, use "certain about" when referring to a topic, "certain of" when referring to a fact, and "certain in" when referring to a belief.

Is "certain at" grammatically correct?

No, "certain at" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Common alternatives include "certain about" or "sure of".

How can I avoid using "certain at" in my writing?

Replace "certain at" with more appropriate phrases like "certain about", "sure of", or "confident in" to improve clarity and grammatical accuracy.

What can I say instead of "I'm certain at this point"?

You can use alternatives such as "I'm "certain about" this point", "I'm "sure of" this point", or "I'm "confident in" this assessment."