certain of us

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certain of us" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific group of people within a larger context, often implying a shared experience or opinion among that group. Example: "Certain of us believe that change is necessary for progress in our organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In the style of the Dice Man, certain of us used to decide activities with games of chance.

The Guardian - Travel

Occasionally, by some miracle of self-deception, certain of us might believe ourselves to be saved by love, but ultimately this cannot rescue us.

The Guardian - Books

Everyone in BriThey Is Getting Nastier.

Vice

Alas, the Ministry is already having trouble coming to grips with the fact that certain of us have been listening to that dang "We Can't Stop" song on repeat all week.

Los Angeles Times

What if rather than succumbing to generations of social conditioning, that tells us certain of us are nothing more than the worthless, menacing, threatening, criminal other, we opened our hearts, and said hello?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

While some people still believe this, I'm fairly certain most of us have gotten over this fear, as we use our phones more for cameras than for talking.

Huffington Post

"Because at least I know for certain one of us is going to win something.

Independent

T.B.J. didn't have access to such stats, but I'm pretty certain none of us broke triple digits.

The New Yorker

Well, a lot of people, probably, but a certain subset of us probably clutched our collars in an agonized fugue of relating.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"He wasn't allowed within a certain radius of us, and we'd move from different places, and we had panic buttons.

The Guardian

The former is set in the early 1950s, and the latter in the early 60s, but both are redolent of a certain era of US power and prestige, and the faultlines that ran beneath it.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "certain of us" when you want to indicate that a particular subset of a group shares a specific attribute, belief, or experience. For instance: "Certain of us appreciate the value of traditional methods."

Common error

Avoid using "certain of us" in very informal conversations; simpler alternatives like "some of us" or "a few of us" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain of us" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a pronoun, acting as a subject or part of the subject in a sentence. It identifies a specific subset within a larger group, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "certain of us" is used to denote a subset within a larger group sharing a common characteristic or belief. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically sound and serves to distinguish a particular perspective or action. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, simpler alternatives might be preferred in casual settings. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media. Related phrases include "some of us" and "a few of us". Remember, precision in language enhances clarity, and understanding subtle variations in meaning allows for more effective communication. Be mindful that this expression does not imply the whole group of us, rather a "certain of us".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some of us

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

a few of us

Specifies a small number of individuals within the group.

several of us

Indicates a quantity that is more than a few, but less than many.

some among us

Replaces "of us" with "among us", providing a slightly more formal tone.

those of us who

Introduces a relative clause to further specify the subset.

particular individuals among us

More formal and specific, emphasizing individual members.

specific people in our group

Emphasizes the identity of group members.

selected members of our group

Implies a deliberate choice of individuals from the group.

some individuals from our team

Uses "team" instead of "us", referring to a professional or collaborative group.

a portion of our members

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe a part of a group.

FAQs

What does "certain of us" mean?

The phrase "certain of us" refers to a specific, but often unspecified, subset of a larger group. It implies that not everyone in the group shares the same characteristic, opinion, or experience.

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

Use "certain of us" when you want to highlight that only some members of a group have a particular trait or belief. It's suitable in both formal and informal contexts, but consider alternatives like "some of us" or "a few of us" for casual settings.

What are some alternatives to "certain of us"?

Alternatives include "some of us", "a few of us", "some among us", and "those of us who", depending on the level of formality and specificity you require.

Is "certain of us" formal or informal?

The phrase "certain of us" is relatively neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very casual settings, simpler options like "some of us" might be preferred.