is not very certain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is not very certain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing doubt or a lack of confidence in a particular statement or situation. Example: "The outcome of the experiment is not very certain, as we have not yet gathered enough data to draw a conclusion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As mentioned above, a pragmatic method for controlling power when the observed value of D is not very certain is to define the desired precision with both absolute and relative limits.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

This meta-analysis also showed that under low efficacy the effect of threat was negative and almost significant, which means that if an intervention developer is not very certain that either the target population is high in response and self-efficacy, or that a given intervention will manage to considerably increase both response and self-efficacy, threatening messages should be avoided.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"At that time we were not very certain," he said, "but we have discovered that some of these people who were active, who planned to overthrow the government by force of bombs, had activity in Pakistan and eventually to Afghanistan, where they did meet with the Al Qaeda people".

The New York Times

"You write a book," Stein plaintively says in "The Making of Americans," "and while you write it you are ashamed for everyone must think you are a silly or a crazy one and yet you write it and you are ashamed, you know you will be laughed at or pitied by every one and you have a queer feeling and you are not very certain and you go on writing.

The New Yorker

Yet, respondents who were not very certain of their choice demonstrated a significantly higher preference for seeking medical services (p < 0.0001).

BMC Health Services Research

Respondents who were not very certain of their choice (NRS 1 8) were more likely to prefer seeking medical care for the assessed case vignettes, prompting the adage: "When in doubt, consult the doctor".

BMC Health Services Research

There's a way in which certain poetry is not very different from certain kinds of stand-up comedy.

Vice

The conventional ECG is not very sensitive for detecting infarction in certain locations (posterior) [ 32], and not all patients who have myocardial necrosis exhibit ECG changes [ 2].

Critical Care

In addition, while the intrinsic fluorescence signals from metal nanoparticles are not very strong, certain types of metal clusters and nanoparticles can be employed for fluorescent imaging or PAT.

BioMed Research International

However, the improvement was not very significant beyond certain number of states and component Gaussians, and as we opted for a larger number of HMM states and number of Gaussian components, the computation times for training also increased.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Minimize all distractions while driving; this is especially true of self-initiated distractions as many drivers are not very tolerant of certain distracting behaviors.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing uncertainty, consider the context and choose a phrase that accurately reflects the degree of doubt. "Is not very certain" is suitable for situations where there is some, but not complete, uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using stronger phrases like "is definitely uncertain" when the situation involves only a moderate degree of doubt. Using hyperbolic language can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not very certain" functions as a qualifier, indicating a degree of uncertainty or doubt about a particular statement or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is not very certain" serves as a qualifier expressing a moderate level of doubt or uncertainty. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English, indicating that something lacks a high degree of confidence without completely ruling it out. While not as strong as saying something is "uncertain", it's more decisive than suggesting something is merely "possible". Its use spans across varied sources from Science to News & Media. Remember to use this phrase when you want to convey a sense of incomplete assurance, acknowledging the potential for alternative outcomes. Consider using alternatives like "is quite uncertain", "is somewhat uncertain", or "is not entirely certain" to fine-tune the degree of uncertainty you wish to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is quite uncertain

Emphasizes the uncertainty, making it slightly stronger than the original phrase.

is not entirely certain

Suggests a partial lack of certainty, implying some aspects might be known.

is rather uncertain

Uses "rather" to indicate a notable degree of uncertainty.

is not completely certain

Highlights the absence of complete assurance or knowledge.

is somewhat uncertain

Indicates a moderate level of uncertainty.

is a bit uncertain

Uses "a bit" to downplay the degree of uncertainty.

is open to doubt

Shifts the focus to the possibility of doubt or skepticism.

remains questionable

Highlights the unresolved nature and potential for debate.

is subject to debate

Emphasizes the controversial or contested nature of the subject.

is shrouded in doubt

Suggests a significant and pervasive sense of uncertainty.

FAQs

How can I use "is not very certain" in a sentence?

Use "is not very certain" to express that something is doubtful or lacks a high degree of confidence. For example: "The outcome of the negotiation is not very certain at this stage."

What phrases are similar to "is not very certain"?

You can use alternatives like "is quite uncertain", "is somewhat uncertain", or "is not entirely certain" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "is not very certain" or "is uncertain"?

"Is uncertain" is a more direct way to express doubt. "Is not very certain" implies a slight degree of confidence, making it a weaker statement.

What does it mean when something "is not very certain"?

It means there's a lack of complete assurance or confidence about something. The result or outcome isn't guaranteed, and doubts or questions remain.