certain to fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certain to fail" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or plan that is highly likely to result in failure. Example: "Without proper funding and support, the project is certain to fail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

But the euro is certain to fail.

The New York Times

But this is almost certain to fail.

The Guardian

The bill now looks almost certain to fail.

The Economist

They would be certain to fail once they hit the hard-assed realities of the market.

The Guardian - Business

Because the combined opposition outnumbers the Conservatives, the bill is almost certain to fail.

The New York Times

My own experience of starting out was haphazard and almost certain to fail.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Sometimes, people root for certain movies to fail and this seems to have been one of them," he said.

The New York Times

A few analysts are thinking radical thoughts: Cazenove says Dyson is able to consider drastic measures to protect value in Punch's best businesses "possibly at the cost of allowing certain securitised vehicles to fail".

The Guardian - Business

It was possible to put an absolute 95% confidence interval around the cut score of 9.30% marks (equivalent to 2 SEMs) meaning that students falling below 47.70% would be reasonably certain to have failed.

BMC Medical Education

IMGs from south Asian backgrounds are much more likely to fail certain components of the new compulsory assessment for all doctors wishing to become GPs, the MRCGP, than UK white graduates.

The Guardian

Even though Kalman filtering provides the optimal solution under certain assumptions, it tends to fail when the estimated probability density presents a multimodal distribution or the dimension of the state vector is high.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "certain to fail", ensure the context clearly supports the high degree of certainty you're implying. Overuse can weaken your argument, so reserve it for situations with strong supporting evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "certain to fail" when expressing a possibility or likelihood; instead, use phrases like "likely to fail" or "may not succeed" to accurately reflect the uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain to fail" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to express a strong prediction of inevitable failure. It suggests that the subject lacks any possibility of success, according to Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "certain to fail" is a powerful tool for expressing a firm belief that something will inevitably not succeed. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it functions as a predicate adjective phrase, communicating a strong conviction. It's commonly found in News & Media, as well as scientific contents, indicating its versatility in expressing negative predictions across various domains. When writing, it's important to use this phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations where a high degree of certainty is warranted. Although the phrase is grammatically correct, using it to exaggerate probability can cause it to lose meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

destined for failure

Highlights a preordained or inevitable lack of success.

guaranteed to collapse

Emphasizes a more definitive and unavoidable breakdown.

sure to fall through

Focuses on plans or agreements that will not be completed.

bound to be unsuccessful

A more formal and slightly weaker expression of likely failure.

fated to not succeed

Focuses on a predetermined lack of accomplishment.

doomed to disappointment

Emphasizes the negative emotional outcome of the failure.

set up for defeat

Highlights external factors that contribute to the likelihood of failure.

predestined to underperform

Emphasizes a preordained lack of success in terms of performance.

going to come to nothing

Suggests the endeavor will produce no valuable results.

unable to prosper

Focuses on the inability to achieve growth or financial success.

FAQs

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

You can use "certain to fail" to describe plans or projects that are highly likely to not succeed. For example, "Without adequate funding, the project is "certain to fail"."

What are some alternatives to "certain to fail"?

Some alternatives to "certain to fail" include "doomed to failure", "bound to fail", or "sure to fall through", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "almost certain to fail"?

Yes, "almost certain to fail" is a correct and commonly used phrase. It indicates a very high probability of failure, but with a slightly lesser degree of certainty than ""certain to fail"".

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

"Likely to fail" suggests a probability of failure, while ""certain to fail"" implies a near guarantee or inevitability of failure. The latter is stronger and should be used when the evidence strongly supports the negative outcome.