certain to arrive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certain to arrive" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when talking about something that is guaranteed or guaranteed to happen in the future. For example: - "The package is certain to arrive by Friday." - "The new shipment of products is certain to arrive next week." - "The train is certain to arrive on time." In each of these sentences, "certain to arrive" is used to convey that the event mentioned (the package arriving, the shipment arriving, the train arriving) is guaranteed to happen or happen at the expected time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

A vibrant upturn is just around the corner, they insist, certain to arrive by spring.

The New York Times - Arts

21, a date that is almost certain to arrive before the commission completes consideration of any revised deal.

The New York Times

The British are certain to arrive in a later update but it seems odd to ignore them.

The Guardian - Tech

The fifth such move is virtually certain to arrive on Tuesday, but fear of the Fed seems to have faded.

The New York Times

According to April L. Benson, author of "I Shop, Therefore I Am: Compulsive Buying and the Search for Self," that day is almost certain to arrive.

The New York Times - Health

I got married, went to work for Microsoft, and concluded that any changes in my cognitive ability were pretty minor, and progressing slowly enough so that the truck with my name on it is almost certain to arrive first.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Instead, they provide a fraction of the measurement, which is then multiplied by a certain factor to arrive at the total amount used.

The New York Times

Here, quantitative (objective) information (e.g., stand volume) is jointly considered with qualitative (subjective) information (e.g., expert judgment of slope failure event and preference value of a certain stand) to arrive at a compromise plan that considers conflicting management objectives.

Land Use Policy

The next step, called critique, is a critical assessment of concepts and explanatory statements used in a certain moral context to arrive at clarity, unambiguousness and plausibility.

BMC Medical Ethics

The aim is to facilitate normatively justifiable practical decision-making among stakeholders under certain constraints, not to arrive at practical conclusions about what to do as a policy or in particular contexts.

BMC Medical Ethics

But his son was delayed because certain equipment had yet to arrive at Fort Drum.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "certain to arrive" to convey a high degree of confidence in a future arrival. Avoid using it when there's considerable doubt or uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "certain to arrive" if there is even a small chance of the event not occurring; use alternatives like "likely to arrive" to reflect uncertainty more accurately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain to arrive" functions as a modal phrase expressing a high degree of probability or inevitability regarding a future event. It suggests that the arrival is highly expected and almost guaranteed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Wiki

9%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "certain to arrive" effectively conveys a strong expectation of a future arrival. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While "certain to arrive" indicates near-guarantee, remember to use it judiciously, avoiding it when there's a chance of uncertainty. Alternatives like "sure to arrive" or "likely to arrive" may be more appropriate in scenarios with less certainty. When absolute assurance isn't justified, choosing a more nuanced phrase can enhance clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sure to arrive

Replaces "certain" with "sure", maintaining the meaning of high probability.

virtually guaranteed to arrive

Adds emphasis to the certainty of arrival.

bound to arrive

Uses "bound" instead of "certain", conveying inevitability.

guaranteed to arrive

Substitutes "certain" with "guaranteed", emphasizing assurance.

almost certain to arrive

Softens the assertion slightly, making it 'almost' rather than completely certain.

expected to arrive

Indicates arrival is anticipated, though with a slightly lower degree of certainty.

likely to arrive

Expresses probability rather than certainty.

poised to arrive

Suggests readiness and imminence, changing the focus slightly.

scheduled to arrive

Focuses on a planned arrival, removing the element of certainty.

set to arrive

Indicates a prearranged plan for arrival, slightly weaker than certainty.

FAQs

How can I use "certain to arrive" in a sentence?

Use "certain to arrive" when you are very confident that something will happen. For example, "The package is "certain to arrive" tomorrow."

What can I say instead of "certain to arrive"?

You can use alternatives such as "sure to arrive", "bound to arrive", or "guaranteed to arrive" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "certain to arrive" or "sure to arrive"?

Both ""certain to arrive"" and "sure to arrive" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably to express a high degree of confidence in a future arrival.

What's the difference between "certain to arrive" and "likely to arrive"?

"Certain to arrive" suggests a very high degree of confidence, almost a guarantee. "Likely to arrive" indicates a strong probability but allows for the possibility that it might not happen.