grew uncertain of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grew uncertain of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a gradual loss of confidence or clarity regarding a situation or decision. Example: "As the project progressed, she grew uncertain of her initial assumptions about the timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The more I talked to people there, the more I grew uncertain of my purpose in the village, a mission that seemed destined to fail before it had even started.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Even with an ecstatic comeback victory, though, a season of joyous revival grew uncertain when Holiday injured his left shoulder late in the third quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

Later, she grew uncertain, fearful, desperate.

The New Yorker

The problem of mining uncertain big data due to existential probabilities becomes worse and requires huge efforts and computational power to explore the incrementally growing uncertain search space.

Data Science and Engineering

I wondered, and he told me it was to lick the sweat from a young girl's leg just one more time he had grown too uncertain of himself to aspire higher than that.

Vice

His relationships, with both Kyle and his neurotic mother, strain as everyone grows more uncertain of what the future holds, and how best to react to the deterioration of his health.

Huffington Post

We're already seeing real signs of that in current Gov. Charlie Crist's (I) non-write-in bid for Florida's U.S. Senate seat as a former GOP insider who one day grew tired of uncertain back-and-forth with stalwart conservative peers.

Huffington Post

As the western teams grew increasingly uncertain over South Asian security, especially over the last two decades, such acts of sub-continental solidarity became commonplace.

Forbes

But the fates of the captives, who were whisked into Colombia by hijacked helicopter, grew more uncertain after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, denied responsibility.

The New York Times

This analysis highlights the increased flexibility and scalability of DWDM networks, which lowers the deployment costs of such networks in light of growing and uncertain demand.

Technological Forecasting and Social Change

The PROVIDI study was conceived from the perspective of the radiologists, to determine the prognostic relevance of the growing amount of uncertain incidental findings.

European Radiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grew uncertain of" to describe a gradual shift in someone's confidence or clarity regarding a plan, belief, or situation. It implies a process of becoming less sure over time, rather than a sudden realization.

Common error

Avoid using "grew uncertain of" to describe a sudden, immediate feeling of doubt. This phrase indicates a gradual process, so use alternatives like "became suddenly unsure" if the doubt is immediate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grew uncertain of" functions as a verb phrase that describes a process of becoming less confident or sure about something. As Ludwig suggests, it illustrates a gradual development of doubt.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grew uncertain of" is used to describe a gradual process of losing confidence or clarity about something. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. While not very common, as evidenced by the limited number of examples, it is found in authoritative sources, including news and media outlets, science publications, and formal business communications. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the nuance of a gradual shift in certainty, distinguishing it from sudden or immediate doubts. Consider alternatives such as "became doubtful about" or "started to question" to fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became less sure of

Uses simpler vocabulary to express the same concept of diminishing certainty.

became doubtful about

Replaces "grew" with "became" and uses "doubtful" instead of "uncertain", emphasizing a feeling of doubt.

developed doubts about

Indicates a gradual development of doubts, similar to "grew uncertain".

started to question

Shifts the focus to the act of questioning one's beliefs or decisions, implying a loss of certainty.

began to doubt

Similar to "started to question", but emphasizes the emergence of doubt.

felt increasingly unsure about

Emphasizes the feeling of uncertainty, making it more personal and emotional.

lost confidence in

Highlights the loss of confidence as the primary change, rather than the development of uncertainty.

started feeling ambiguous about

Switches "uncertain" with "ambiguous", focusing on the lack of clarity or definition.

found myself questioning

Makes the experience of questioning more personal and reflective.

turned skeptical of

Suggests a development of skepticism, implying a critical assessment and doubt.

FAQs

How can I use "grew uncertain of" in a sentence?

You can use "grew uncertain of" to describe a gradual shift in someone's confidence or clarity, like: "As the project progressed, she "grew uncertain of" her initial assumptions".

What are some alternatives to "grew uncertain of"?

Some alternatives include "became doubtful about", "started to question", or "lost confidence in", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "grew uncertain of" or "became uncertain of"?

"Grew uncertain of" implies a gradual process, while "became uncertain of" can indicate a more sudden shift. The best choice depends on whether the uncertainty developed gradually or arose more quickly.

What does "grew uncertain of" imply about the nature of the uncertainty?

The phrase suggests that the uncertainty developed over a period of time due to changing circumstances, new information, or increasing doubts. It's not a fixed or inherent state, but rather a developing one.