feeling unsure

USAGE SUMMARY

"feeling unsure" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when expressing doubt or lack of confidence about a situation or decision. Example: "I am feeling unsure about my choice of career." Alternative expressions include "feeling uncertain," "feeling hesitant," and "feeling insecure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

No one emerged, no one went in, and we left feeling unsure of ourselves.

The New Yorker

"I wake up feeling unsure of just about everything," he says at one point.

The New York Times

I understand that you've been feeling unsure about the symbol, and might be using the name "Prince" again.

The New Yorker

Superposition is like Freud's description of true ambivalence: not feeling unsure, but feeling opposing extremes of conviction at once.

The New Yorker

I'm feeling unsure how to best administer the green icing, and ask for a bit of guidance.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He was feeling unsure of his future in the industry when he heard a cassette of contemporary South African music.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

That was what was wrong with him — he was often left speechless, unsure whether he had a right to indignation or hurt feelings, unsure how exactly a person was entitled to react.

The New Yorker

After a dozen attempts, I began to feel a lot less self-conscious; Rob's encouragement stopped me feeling too unsure about my spidery pencil strokes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Aesthetically, however, it packs a huge punch and, unusually for choreography, leaves one feeling anxious, unsure as to what has just been witnessed.Mr Forsythe feels this is the right response: "It's hard to give the piece a name.

The Economist

Before that, I'd been fired from two jobs in the music industry, so I was feeling quite unsure of myself.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One local businessman who agreed to sit down and take a meeting with Stark's PR agents told me he came away feeling confused, unsure about what the pub was being changed into, or why it should change at all.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal or scientific writing, consider if a more precise term like "decisional delay" or "situational uncertainty" better describes the specific phenomenon being observed.

Common error

Avoid using "feeling unsure" when you actually mean "feeling unsafe". Being "unsure" relates to a lack of knowledge or confidence in a choice, whereas being "unsafe" relates to physical or emotional danger. For example, if a dark alley makes you nervous, you are "feeling uneasy" or "feeling threatened", not just "unsure".

Linguistic Context

In English grammar, "feeling unsure" functions as a present participial phrase where "feeling" is the participle and "unsure" acts as its adjectival complement. It typically appears as a predicative expression following a subject or as an introductory phrase to a main clause. Ludwig AI confirms its structural validity as a way to modify a subject's current internal state.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Social Media

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "feeling unsure" is a common and grammatically correct English phrase used to describe a state of hesitation or lack of certainty. Ludwig AI highlights that it is equally effective in creative storytelling, such as in The New Yorker, and in empirical research, such as in BMC Medical Education. It is most frequently followed by prepositions like "about" or "of" to provide context to the uncertainty. While it overlaps with terms like "uncertain" or "hesitant", "feeling unsure" remains the standard choice for expressing a relatable, human sense of doubt. Writers should ensure they are not confusing it with "feeling unsafe", which carries a much heavier connotation of danger rather than simple indecision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feeling uncertain

Slightly more formal and often used when the outcome is unpredictable

experiencing doubt

More formal noun-based construction for professional writing

feeling doubtful

Suggests a stronger inclination toward disbelief or suspicion

feeling hesitant

Focuses more on the resulting delay in action rather than just the internal state

feeling indecisive

Specifically refers to the inability to make a choice

feeling unsettled

Focuses on the lack of comfort or calm resulting from the uncertainty

feeling insecure

Implies a lack of confidence in oneself rather than just a specific situation

feeling ambivalent

Suggests having simultaneous conflicting feelings rather than just a lack of clarity

feeling shaky

Metaphorical and more informal, suggesting instability in one's position

feeling apprehensive

Adds a layer of fear or anxiety about a future event

FAQs

How to use "feeling unsure" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a person's state of mind when facing a choice, such as "After the interview, I was "left feeling unsure" of my performance".

What can I say instead of "feeling unsure"?

Depending on the intensity, you can use alternatives like "feeling uncertain", "feeling hesitant", or "feeling confused".

Which is correct, "feeling unsure of" or "feeling unsure about"?

Both are correct and used by Ludwig sources. "Unsure of" is often used with specific facts or one's own abilities (e.g., "unsure of himself"), while "unsure about" is common with decisions or upcoming events (e.g., "unsure about the move").

What is the difference between "feeling unsure" and "feeling insecure"?

While related, "feeling insecure" usually implies a lack of self-confidence or a perceived threat to one's stability, whereas "feeling unsure" refers more broadly to a lack of certainty about a fact or a decision.