could be of course

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be of course" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to suggest a possibility or to acknowledge that something is likely true, often in a conversational tone. Example: "There are many reasons for the delay, but it could be of course due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

You could be, of course, every term and move alike.

The New Yorker

It could be, of course, that Mr. Gephardt is being cute.

The New York Times

It could be, of course, that there are two sides to this adviser.

The New York Times

It could be, of course, that players who are destined to become managers gravitate to the catcher position.

Harvard Business Review

It could be, of course, that quantitative easing (central banks buying government bonds) is keeping yields artificially low.

The Economist

It could be, of course, that voters won't warm up to a pearls-you-have-to-deal-with personality.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

That he threw no harder than I could was of course an essential part of the appeal.

The New Yorker

Guinness's form of creative expression could be seen, of course, as merely a rarefied form of consumerism.

The New Yorker

Other readings could be offered, of course, and some of them may be more accurate.

The New Yorker

The works could be read, of course, as symbols of present-day anomie.

The New York Times - Arts

The personal cost of taking them, both physical and emotional, could be enormous, of course.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could be of course" to introduce a possibility or an alternative explanation, particularly when acknowledging a point already understood or implied by the audience. This can help to soften the introduction of the idea and make the writing sound more conversational.

Common error

Avoid overusing "could be of course" in your writing, as it can make your tone sound repetitive or unsure. Instead, vary your language with alternatives such as "might be", "may well be", or simply state the possibility without the additional phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be of course" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a statement to express possibility with a sense of obviousness or concession. It suggests a potential situation while acknowledging that it's a reasonable or expected outcome. Ludwig AI confirms this with many real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could be of course" serves as an adverbial phrase used to introduce a possibility or alternative explanation with a sense of obviousness or concession. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous real-world examples confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts. While it leans towards a neutral to slightly informal register, overuse should be avoided to maintain writing clarity. Consider alternatives like "might be naturally" or "possibly is undoubtedly" to add variety. The phrase is useful for softening statements or acknowledging understood points while introducing new perspectives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be, naturally

Replaces "could" with "might" and "of course" with "naturally", slightly altering the tone to sound more intuitive.

may well be, certainly

Substitutes "could" with "may well be" for a stronger possibility, and "of course" with "certainly" emphasizing assurance.

possibly is, undoubtedly

Uses "possibly is" to indicate a chance and replaces "of course" with "undoubtedly" stressing certainty.

it's likely, evidently

Changes the structure to "it's likely" to show probability, and "evidently" replaces "of course" for clarity.

it's conceivable, clearly

Employs "it's conceivable" to introduce an idea as possible and "clearly" to affirm a point.

perhaps it is, plainly

Uses "perhaps it is" indicating uncertainty and "plainly" instead of "of course" for a direct assertion.

it's imaginable, obviously

Replaces "could be" with "it's imaginable" to suggest something is possible, and "obviously" for "of course" to denote something is clear.

it's thinkable, patently

Substitutes "could be" with "it's thinkable" presenting an idea as considerable and "patently" for "of course" to mean evidently.

conceivably it is, admittedly

Uses "conceivably it is" to introduce a possibility and "admittedly" instead of "of course" to show acknowledgment.

presumably is, assuredly

Replaces "could be" with "presumably is" to indicate assumption and "assuredly" for "of course" to show confidence.

FAQs

How can I use "could be of course" in a sentence?

You can use "could be of course" to introduce a possibility that seems evident or logical, for instance, "The project could be of course delayed due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "could be of course"?

Alternatives include "might be naturally", "may well be certainly", or "possibly is undoubtedly" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "could be of course"?

Yes, "could be of course" is grammatically correct. It's a common construction used to introduce a possibility in a conversational or explanatory manner.

What's the difference between "could be of course" and "might be of course"?

While both suggest a possibility, "could be of course" often implies a slightly higher degree of certainty or obviousness compared to "might be of course". The phrase "might be of course" suggests a more tentative possibility.