certain of them

USAGE SUMMARY

"certain of them" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about a group of people, items, or ideas. For example: "The students were given a variety of topics to discuss, and certain of them had much greater difficulty than others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Certain of them were dressed like Con Ed guys.

The New Yorker

"I think that certain of them suffered," he said.

The New York Times

Then, finally last year, when errors discovered in the partnerships required certain of them to be moved back onto Enron's books, the curtain began to part.

The New York Times

("King Dasa-ratha, Rama's father, was loved by all his subjects and he loved certain of them in return, especially if they were women").

The New Yorker

Certain of them had hoped that Brooke would go off on an extended cruise somewhere, in the usual way of rich widows, and leave "serious" matters in their hands.

The New Yorker

Arabic is written from right to left and consists of 17 characters, which, with the addition of dots placed above or below certain of them, provide the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

But politics allows limited candor on certain issues and race is certain one of them.

Huffington Post

A certain percentage of them will go to college, a certain percentage will drop out, a certain percentage will be a specific religion, so on and so forth.

Huffington Post

Current law describes a curfew as "a regulation that forbids people (or certain classes of them) from being outdoors between certain hours".

The Guardian

Only a certain amount of them are still intact".

The New York Times - Sports

A certain number of them are going to get away.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "certain of them", ensure that the context clearly defines the larger group being referenced to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "certain of them" without a clear antecedent. Ensure the "them" has been explicitly defined in the preceding text to prevent reader confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain of them" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a subset within a larger group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English to refer to a select portion of a previously identified set. For example, "Certain of them were dressed like Con Ed guys."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "certain of them" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that serves to specify a subset within a larger, previously defined group. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is appropriate for referring to a select portion of a set, as demonstrated through various examples from news sources, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. While "some of them" can often be used interchangeably, "certain of them" may carry a slightly more formal tone. The key is to ensure clear context to avoid ambiguity and maintain effective communication. Common errors include vague references, which can be avoided by ensuring a clear antecedent for "them". Overall, this phrase is a valuable tool for precise expression in a variety of contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some of them

Replaces "certain" with "some", indicating an unspecified portion of the group.

a few of them

Replaces "certain" with "a few", suggesting a smaller subset of the group.

some among them

Rephrases to emphasize selection from within the group.

a number of them

Uses "a number" instead of "certain" to denote an unspecified quantity.

various of them

Replaces "certain" with "various", highlighting diversity within the subset.

specific ones

Uses "specific ones" to denote a particular subset, implying known criteria.

selected ones

Replaces "certain of them" with "selected ones", implying active selection.

a portion of them

Rephrases to emphasize a part or share of the group.

some individuals

Uses 'individuals' instead of 'them', to refer to people.

discrete components

Uses 'discrete components' instead of 'them', to refer to objects or things.

FAQs

How do I use "certain of them" in a sentence?

Use "certain of them" when you want to refer to a subset of a previously mentioned group. For instance, "The books were on the shelf, and certain of them were first editions."

What are some alternatives to "certain of them"?

You can use alternatives like "some of them", "a few of them", or "a number of them" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "certain of them" or "some of them"?

"Certain of them" and "some of them" are generally interchangeable, though "certain of them" might be perceived as slightly more formal due to the word "certain".

When is it appropriate to use "certain of them"?

It is appropriate when you are referring to specific items or individuals within a larger, already defined group, and you want to indicate that not all members of that group are included.