certainly at this time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certainly at this time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize agreement or affirmation regarding a situation or decision that is relevant to the present moment. Example: "We are certainly at this time committed to improving our customer service standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Certainly at this time of the year you've got a lot of things going on.

The New York Times - Sports

"Certainly, at this time last year nobody knew what to expect with the state of the economy and what would be happening," said Tim Alessi, director of product development at LG Electronics USA, which is one of the bigger CES exhibitors.

Independent

Urgent appeals for blood donors seem to be a regular event - certainly at this time of year.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"As a government however we are not pursuing the devolution of income tax, certainly not at this time.

BBC

Certainly never at this time did I feel any aspirations to DJ, just to buy as much of this amazing music as I could!

Vice

"Look, it was great, certainly, at the time.

The Guardian - Film

There were certainly at that time features common to European painting generally.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I saw things in him that he would, certainly at that time, would have denied".

The New Yorker

MR. McMAHON -- Certainly at the time I did not have that view.

The New York Times

"But certainly, at the time no one ever talked about finding remains".

The New York Times

Certainly at the time I had no intention of continuing her for the rest of my natural life".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "certainly at this time" to express a firm conviction or agreement about a current situation or decision. This emphasizes the present relevance of your assertion.

Common error

Avoid using "certainly at this time" in informal contexts where a simpler phrase like "definitely now" or "absolutely now" would be more appropriate. Overly formal language can sound stilted or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certainly at this time" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause by expressing affirmation and specifying the temporal context. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, emphasizing agreement or affirmation regarding the present moment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "certainly at this time" is a grammatically correct and useful phrase for emphasizing agreement or affirmation regarding a current situation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. While it appears most frequently in news and media, it's also found in scientific, formal, and business contexts. While versatile, it is important to avoid overuse in informal settings, where simpler alternatives might be more appropriate. Related phrases include "definitely at the moment" and "assuredly at present", offering variations in emphasis and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

definitely at the moment

Replaces "certainly" with "definitely" and "this time" with "the moment", slightly altering the emphasis while keeping the core meaning.

assuredly at present

Substitutes "certainly" with "assuredly" and "this time" with "at present", creating a more formal tone.

undoubtedly right now

Replaces "certainly" with "undoubtedly" and "at this time" with "right now", giving a more immediate feel.

absolutely at this juncture

Emphasizes the certainty with "absolutely" and uses the more formal "this juncture" for "this time".

most assuredly in this period

Uses "most assuredly" for emphasis and "in this period" instead of "at this time", adding a slightly broader temporal scope.

positively at this stage

Replaces "certainly" with "positively" and "this time" with "this stage", implying a point in a process or development.

without question at the present moment

Replaces "certainly" with "without question" and "this time" with "the present moment", offering a more emphatic and slightly wordier alternative.

for sure at this point

Uses the more informal "for sure" instead of "certainly" and replaces "this time" with "this point".

incontestably in these times

Replaces "certainly" with "incontestably" and "at this time" with "in these times", providing a broader, more reflective tone.

indisputably at this moment in history

Emphasizes the lack of dispute with "indisputably" and specifies "this moment in history" for greater emphasis.

FAQs

What does "certainly at this time" mean?

The phrase "certainly at this time" indicates a strong affirmation or agreement regarding something happening or being true in the present moment. It emphasizes the current relevance or validity of a statement.

What can I say instead of "certainly at this time"?

You can use alternatives like "definitely at the moment", "assuredly at present", or "undoubtedly right now" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "certainly at this time"?

This phrase is suitable when you want to strongly affirm something and emphasize its relevance to the present situation. It is appropriate in both formal and semi-formal contexts, such as business discussions or news reports.

Is "certainly at this time" interchangeable with "certainly at that time"?

No, "certainly at this time" refers to the present, while "certainly at that time" refers to a specific point in the past. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing a current situation or a past one.