definitely to say

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "definitely to say" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words and does not convey a clear meaning. An example of a corrected phrase could be: "It is definitely safe to say that we will succeed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Although the spatial resolution of fMRI does not permit us definitely to say so, this particular region might be the ventral pallidum, the site of a 'hedonic hotspot' [38], rich in MORs, and a target region for an agent that modulates the hedonics of food reward.

Drug Discovery Today

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I've definitely got to say that," she says.

Independent

"I definitely want to say thank you to Todd," the 41-year-old Velazquez said.

The New York Times - Sports

But for others, she added, "You definitely have to say no because you have no choice".

The New York Times

This is definitely not to say that you leave this production hungry.

The New York Times

"If he blocks my shot, he's definitely going to say that.

The New York Times - Sports

If an account is verified, it's definitely fair to say it's actually him/her.

TechCrunch

"I'm definitely going to say it's a privilege".

Huffington Post

Hailey: I would definitely have to say Rocky Road.

Huffington Post

Don't feel like she's definitely going to say yes.

WikiHow

She definitely has to say some kind words about her daughter before she leaves her roof for good.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "definitely to say" in formal writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "definitely say", "safe to say", or "certainly to say" for clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Be careful not to place adverbs of certainty, such as "definitely", between "to" and the verb. It's more appropriate to place the adverb before "to" (e.g., "definitely to say" should be "definitely say") or rephrase the sentence for better flow and grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "definitely to say" is an attempt to express certainty when making a statement. However, it does not conform to standard grammatical structure. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's an incorrect combination of words.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "definitely to say" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect. While the intention is to convey a strong sense of certainty, the phrasing violates standard English grammar rules. As Ludwig examples illustrate, it’s best to opt for grammatically correct alternatives, such as "definitely say", "safe to say", or "certainly to say" for clear and professional communication. Remember to place adverbs of certainty correctly to maintain grammatical accuracy and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

certainly to state

Replaces "definitely" with "certainly" and "say" with "state", both words that have the function of certainty and enunciation.

clearly to indicate

Replaces "definitely" with "clearly" and "say" with "indicate", shifting from a direct affirmation to a more suggestive expression.

categorically to assert

Emphasizes an authoritative declaration, replacing "definitely" with "categorically" and "say" with "assert".

absolutely to affirm

Conveys a strong confirmation, changing "definitely" to "absolutely" and "say" to "affirm".

positively to declare

Replaces "definitely" with "positively" to reinforce conviction, and "say" with "declare" for a formal tone.

undoubtedly to express

Changes "definitely" to "undoubtedly" to eliminate any doubt, and "say" to "express" for a general communication.

decidedly to mention

Suggests a clear decision to bring something up, using "decidedly" instead of "definitely" and "mention" instead of "say".

confidently to communicate

Highlights the speaker's confidence, changing "definitely" to "confidently" and "say" to "communicate" for a broader sense.

firmly to suggest

Expresses a strong recommendation, with "firmly" replacing "definitely" and "suggest" instead of "say".

emphatically to note

Emphasizes a specific observation, substituting "definitely" with "emphatically" and "say" with "note".

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "definitely to say"?

The phrase "definitely to say" is grammatically incorrect. You can correct it by saying "definitely say", "safe to say", or "certainly to say" depending on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "definitely to say" and "definitely say"?

"Definitely to say" is grammatically incorrect due to the placement of the adverb between "to" and the verb. "Definitely say" is the correct form, where the adverb modifies the verb directly.

Is "definitely to say" ever correct in English?

No, "definitely to say" is not considered correct in standard English. It violates the typical adverb placement rules. Use alternatives like "definitely say" or "it is safe to say" instead.

What are some alternatives to "definitely to say" that sound more natural?

More natural alternatives include "definitely say", "certainly say", "it is safe to say", or you can rephrase the sentence to use alternatives like "clearly indicate" or "categorically assert".