certain to occur

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certain to occur" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is inevitable or guaranteed to happen. Example: "With the storm approaching, it seems that a power outage is certain to occur."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Constitutional change is certain to occur.

The Guardian - Opinion

When an administration at first ignores and then proceeds to selectively interpret the Geneva conventions, abuses are certain to occur.

The Guardian - Opinion

such person has a firm belief that such circumstance exists or that such result is substantially certain to occur.

Cornell University

And the budget also excludes tax cuts that are almost certain to occur over the next five years.

The Economist

But scandals are certain to occur in any occupation where the mantra is "men who like women need not apply".

The New York Times

That second phase is almost certain to occur, because Mr. Taylor's lawyer, in opening statements three weeks ago, said the defendant admitted killing an assistant store manager.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

His savings include $1.1 trillion from military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, spending that was certain never to occur.

The Economist

If people behave in that fashion, then a double-dip recession is all but certain not to occur.

The Economist

"He'd go to antique shops, buy old frames, use square nails and ultraviolet light to cause certain cracks to occur," said Bill Reiner, an F.B.I. agent in the New Haven office.

The New York Times

It allowed certain things to occur that couldn't have occurred, and it justifies all of those things on the grounds that the Florida Supreme Court, the Florida Constitution, trumps those legislative concerns.

The New York Times

"Copy Paste" response is bnlrliait but he would do well not to plagiarise other peoples responses!!!!!!!!The fact is that exposure to microwave radiation for extended periods may well cause certain cancers to occur.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "certain to occur", ensure that the context clearly supports a high degree of probability or inevitability. Avoid using it for events that are merely likely but not virtually guaranteed.

Common error

Avoid using "certain to occur" when the event is only a possibility or a prediction, not a near-certainty. Using weaker phrases like "likely to happen" or "may occur" is more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain to occur" functions as a modal phrase indicating a high degree of probability or inevitability. It modifies a verb, asserting that the action is almost guaranteed to happen. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in diverse contexts, reinforcing this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "certain to occur" is a powerful way to express a high degree of confidence that an event will happen. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across varied contexts, including news, science, and academia. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure the context warrants such a strong assertion of inevitability. Using alternative phrases like "sure to happen" or "bound to happen" can be more appropriate when the outcome is likely but not absolutely guaranteed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sure to happen

Replaces "certain" with "sure", implying a slightly less formal tone but maintaining the same level of probability.

bound to happen

Substitutes "certain" with "bound", suggesting inevitability due to a natural course of events.

guaranteed to occur

Replaces "certain" with "guaranteed", emphasizing assurance and lack of doubt.

inevitable

A single-word substitute that strongly conveys the unavoidable nature of an event.

destined to happen

Implies that the event is predetermined and cannot be avoided.

will definitely happen

Uses "definitely" to reinforce the certainty of the event taking place.

assuredly occur

Replaces "certain to" with the adverb "assuredly", making the phrase slightly more formal.

undoubtedly occur

Similar to "assuredly occur", using "undoubtedly" emphasizes the lack of doubt.

is slated to occur

Indicates that something is planned and very likely to happen.

cannot be avoided

Focuses on the lack of alternatives, implying the event is unavoidable.

FAQs

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

Use "certain to occur" to describe events that are highly probable or inevitable. For example, "With the current trajectory, increased global warming is "certain to occur"".

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

You can use alternatives like "sure to happen", "bound to happen", or "guaranteed to occur" depending on the context.

When is it inappropriate to use "certain to occur"?

It's inappropriate to use "certain to occur" when describing events that are merely possible or speculative. Use it only when the outcome is virtually assured.

What is the difference between "likely to occur" and "certain to occur"?

"Likely to occur" suggests a higher probability than other possibilities, but "certain to occur" suggests near inevitability with little to no chance of an alternative outcome.