finally likely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "finally likely" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a conclusion or a strong possibility, but the combination of the words does not work well together. Example: "After much consideration, it seems that the project is finally likely to succeed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Almost all economists, including some who have been cautious and prescient over the last three years, agree that hiring is finally likely to pick up in the next few months.

The New York Times

The true creative impact of the mental decline of TS Eliot's first wife, Vivienne, and the real nature of his abortive relationships with the women he saw following her committal to an asylum, along with other remaining mysteries of the renowned writer's life, are finally likely to be held up to inspection by an official biographer.

The Guardian - Books

"After three five-year terms of dyed-in-the-wool conservatives, the Bank of Japan is finally likely to have a governor who is prepared to use the monetary armory at his disposal," Nicholas Smith, Japan strategist at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, said in a note.

The New York Times

"In many ways, Ofcom played an ace by allowing EE to launch 4G ahead of everyone else as it meant that for others to follow they needed the joint award of 800MHz and 2.6GHz to happen as soon as possible – something which now seems finally likely to take place.

TechCrunch

Finally, likely future causes of high mortality such as unregulated harvest, bycatch in active fisheries, and pollution stress have been and can be controlled through established fishery management and water quality regulations.

Plosone

Finally, likely due to unhealthy body composition and poor fitness along with strenuous work demands, firefighters are at high risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

BMC Women's Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

When it finally seems likely to happen, the film crashes to a sudden and unsatisfying conclusion.

The New York Times

For the last two years, Cousins has been asking the home for more than just one weekly session and only now does this finally look likely.

The Guardian

That was the moment western intervention finally looked likely but failed to materialise despite the breach of Barack Obama's famous "red lines".

The Guardian

When the end of the "special relationship" finally arrives — likely decades from now — it will end not with a bang but with a gradual drift apart.

The New Yorker

Finally, but likely most importantly, Matt, Chris, John and I offer up some tips as to what we cover on Kickstarter.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "finally likely" is sometimes used, be aware that its unusual construction may be perceived as incorrect by some readers.

Common error

Avoid using "finally likely" when a more concise and grammatically conventional phrase can convey the intended meaning with greater clarity and precision. Overusing adverbs can sometimes weaken your message; choose direct and impactful language instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "finally likely" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, attempting to describe the probability of an event after a certain period. However, this construction is not standard and can sound awkward. Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as non-ideal.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "finally likely" appears in various sources, including News & Media and Science, it's not a standard English construction and can be perceived as awkward. As Ludwig AI confirms, it may be better to opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "ultimately probable" or "eventually expected". These alternatives enhance clarity and precision in writing, making them more suitable for formal contexts. While it's understandable in neutral contexts, being mindful of better word choices helps achieve effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ultimately probable

Replaces "likely" with "probable", suggesting a strong chance of occurrence after a period of time.

eventually expected

Shifts the focus to expectation rather than probability, implying that something is anticipated at the end.

in the end probable

Emphasizes the final outcome's likelihood, using "in the end" for clarity.

certain to occur eventually

Highlights the certainty of the event, emphasizing that it will happen over time.

expected to materialize soon

Focuses on the imminence of the event, using "materialize" to convey becoming real.

almost certainly imminent

Emphasizes the high probability and the closeness in time, using "imminent".

anticipated to happen at last

Highlights the anticipation and the finality of the event's occurrence.

likely to come to fruition soon

Focuses on the realization of something that was planned or hoped for, emphasizing the nearness.

predicted to happen in due course

Replaces the immediacy with a sense of inevitability over a natural period.

expected to come about eventually

Uses more general language, focusing on the expectation that something will happen in the long run.

FAQs

What does "finally likely" mean?

The phrase "finally likely" suggests that after a period of time or anticipation, something is now probable to occur. However, it's not a standard or universally accepted English construction.

How can I rephrase "finally likely" for better clarity?

Consider using alternatives such as "ultimately probable", "eventually expected", or "in the end probable" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

Is "finally likely" grammatically correct?

While "finally likely" may appear in some contexts, it is not considered standard English. Ludwig AI confirms that it's not the best grammatical choice.

Which is better, "finally likely" or "ultimately probable"?

"Ultimately probable" is generally a better choice than "finally likely" because it's more grammatically sound and widely accepted. It conveys a similar meaning with greater clarity.