certain to proceed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certain to proceed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a high level of confidence that something will continue or move forward. Example: "Given the current circumstances, the project is certain to proceed as planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The tidal scheme is not certain to proceed.

The Guardian

But it seems certain to proceed at a more rapid clip than before.

The Economist

Aermont said 14% shareholder Aviva had joined Goodweather Investment and Warren James Holdings in undertaking to sell their shares, meaning the deal is all but certain to proceed.

The Guardian - Business

As a result, Barron's appointment now looks certain to proceed with Democratic support alone and an attempt by Republican critic Rand Paul to stand against the nomination was limited to a brief speech.

The Guardian

Our back-and-forth on the matter left me feeling unclear, though it is certainly conventional wisdom in both parties these days that Democrats, given the House majority, are all but certain to proceed with some kind of case against Trump.

The New Yorker

Although Aishah Azmi faces calls to drop her action for the sake of community relations, it is almost certain to proceed (and be legally aided after costing an estimated £10,000 so far) as an test of the 2004 Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The bill's backers defeated two efforts to permit certain suits to proceed even if the immunity legislation passes.

The New York Times

The extraordinary chambers in the courts of Cambodia - which is designed to bring to account those most responsible for the crimes of the Khmer Rouge - has been stymied as senior government officials publicly refuse to "allow" certain prosecutions to proceed and withhold the testimony of witnesses Phnom Penh would rather not be heard.

The Guardian

Unique thermodynamic properties (Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, entropy, etc). of binary solvents allow certain reactions to proceed at a faster rate than is possible in a single solvent (example, water).

Biotechnology for Biofuels

You will need certain records to proceed with an annulment, such as a certified marriage certificate, social security numbers, and financial records.

WikiHow

Professor Kamisar, usually a skeptic about police interrogation methods, said that Detective Boyle had erased any doubt about Mr. Malvo's intentions to talk about what happened by repeatedly and explicitly asking him if he was certain he wanted to proceed without a lawyer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "certain to proceed" when you want to express a high degree of confidence that an event or action will take place. Avoid using it when there's significant doubt or opposition.

Common error

Avoid using "certain to proceed" when the outcome is still contingent on specific conditions or approvals. Overstating certainty can lead to miscommunication and damage credibility if the event does not occur.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain to proceed" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying a noun (often implied) to express a high degree of confidence that something will happen. Ludwig shows examples where it's used to describe events or actions with a strong likelihood of occurring.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "certain to proceed" is a phrase used to express a strong belief that something will happen, functioning as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral to professional register. While it conveys confidence, it's essential to ensure that the situation warrants such certainty to avoid miscommunication. Alternatives like "guaranteed to go ahead" or "sure to happen" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

guaranteed to go ahead

Replaces "certain" with "guaranteed" and "proceed" with "go ahead", emphasizing assurance.

sure to happen

Uses a more general term "happen" instead of "proceed", focusing on the event's occurrence.

bound to occur

Emphasizes inevitability with "bound to", implying a natural course of events.

destined to take place

Suggests a predetermined outcome, making it more forceful than "certain".

poised to advance

Focuses on the progress aspect, suitable when the subject is ready for the next stage.

set to continue

Highlights the continuation of an existing process or plan.

assured to move forward

Uses "assured" to convey confidence and "move forward" as a directional action.

all but inevitable

Expresses a near certainty, acknowledging a slight possibility of not happening.

very likely to proceed

Emphasizes likelihood instead of certainty, offering a less absolute assurance.

expected to advance

Indicates a high level of anticipation, suggesting a strong expectation.

FAQs

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

You can use "certain to proceed" to indicate that an event or plan is very likely to happen. For example: "Given the board's approval, the project is "certain to proceed" as scheduled."

What are some alternatives to "certain to proceed"?

Alternatives include "guaranteed to go ahead", "sure to happen", or "bound to occur", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "certain to proceed" in formal writing?

Yes, "certain to proceed" is suitable for formal writing, especially in business, legal, or academic contexts where expressing confidence about future events is necessary.

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

"Certain to proceed" implies a higher degree of confidence than "likely to proceed". While "likely" suggests a good chance of happening, "certain" suggests a near-guarantee.