inevitable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "inevitable" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe something that will happen in the future and is unavoidable. For example, "The effects of climate change are inevitable".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's inevitable that one day, someone, somewhere will say that I've offended them, and that will be that".

The Guardian

Back home, his wife, Mary, given the news that Tom was missing, presumed wounded, refused to accept the inevitable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"He phrased it well, said we spend more time thinking about our next inevitable failure than our next success.

The Guardian - Sport

Yet for all of this effort, the polls have barely moved in months, a hung parliament looks inevitable and the manifestos have been written as coalition bargaining positions rather than binding promises.

The Guardian - Opinion

There's no inevitable consequence of urbanisation that is either positive or negative.

The Guardian

The way he deals with the inevitable rumours about his sexuality ("Who does it hurt if someone thinks I'm gay"?) is wonderfully beguiling, and that's before we've even started on his humanitarian work in Darfur and Haiti, not to mention his friendship with President Obama, recently in the news following Clooney's bust-up with Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn.

The Guardian - Opinion

His three goals were not enough to carry Russia out of the group phase but a big career and a big move seemed inevitable.

The Guardian - Sport

I can't imagine how boring it must be waiting for the inevitable "It's not as good as Kid A" comments each time you release a record.

The Guardian - Music

Salmond's stunning victory in May 2011 had made a referendum inevitable, but its details were yet to be determined.

The Guardian

Directing his criticism at unionist politicians, Ford said if people were called on to the streets in a charged atmosphere, "violence is almost inevitable".

The Guardian

The German goalkeeper is nothing if not decisive and beats the Algeria forward to the bouncing ball by a split second, heading it out for a throw-in before the inevitable collision between the two players.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "inevitable" when you want to convey a sense of certainty and unavoidability about a future event or outcome. It's particularly effective in formal writing and when discussing serious or consequential matters.

Common error

Avoid using "inevitable" when the outcome is merely likely or probable, not certain. Using "likely", "probable", or "expected" is more appropriate for uncertain events.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "inevitable" primarily functions to describe nouns as being certain to happen and impossible to avoid. It indicates a sense of unavoidability or predetermination. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inevitable" is a versatile adjective used to describe events or outcomes that are certain to occur and impossible to prevent. Ludwig AI analysis, backed by 50 real-world examples from sources like The Guardian, indicates that it is grammatically correct and most commonly found in news and media contexts. While "inevitable" conveys a sense of certainty, it's important to avoid using it when an outcome is only probable. Alternatives like "unavoidable" and "certain to happen" can be used to express similar meanings, and the usage of this adjective can make the sentence sound strong and well structured.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unavoidable

Synonym for "inevitable" emphasizing the impossibility of preventing something.

inescapable

Similar to "inevitable" but conveys a sense of being unable to get away from something.

cannot be avoided

Explicitly states the lack of possibility of evasion.

certain to happen

Rephrases "inevitable" focusing on the assuredness of an event.

impossible to prevent

Highlights the impossibility of stopping something from occurring.

bound to occur

Implies that something will definitely happen, similar to "inevitable".

sure to come

Emphasizes the certainty of an event's arrival.

destined to be

Suggests a sense of fate or predetermination, similar to "inevitable".

it was written in the stars

An idiom that implies fate or destiny making something "inevitable".

what must be, must be

Expresses acceptance of an "inevitable" outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "inevitable" in a sentence?

You can use "inevitable" to describe events or outcomes that are impossible to avoid, such as: "The effects of climate change are inevitable" or "With current market trends, a price increase is inevitable".

What are some alternatives to using "inevitable"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "unavoidable", "inescapable", or "certain to happen" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say something is "almost inevitable"?

While "almost inevitable" might seem contradictory, it's often used to describe situations where the outcome is highly likely but not 100% certain. It suggests a very strong probability but acknowledges a slight chance of a different result.

What's the difference between "inevitable" and "imminent"?

"Inevitable" means certain to happen and impossible to avoid, while "imminent" refers to something that is about to happen very soon. Something can be "imminent" without being inevitable, and something "inevitable" might not be imminent.