is surely that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is surely that" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express certainty about something, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "The answer to the question is surely that it requires further investigation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It is surely that Williamson refused to play the game required of celebrities.

Independent

Widening the range of possible profit outcomes to £104m - from £74m only two months ago - is unusual, but the key conclusion is surely that Next doesn't expect to come apart at the seams, whatever happens.

The Guardian - Business

It isn't what it was (and praise be for that), but if there is one day a year when it is still relevant, then Glastonbury Saturday is surely that day.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One is surely that organization has to be transparent.

Forbes

After all, such a radical thing as a self-driving car is surely that far away, right?

TechCrunch

Part of what this means is surely that owners are free to use their property as they please; they are not bound by social or political decisions.

SEP

If you've been looking for a reason to pick up that Labo kit again or use some random pieces you never tried, this is surely that reason.

TechCrunch

The truth is surely that no one can be sure.

The Guardian - Opinion

One reason is surely that there's no profit in it.

The New York Times

The reason is surely that goods and services are bought with a specific use in mind.

The Economist

But the good news is surely that a respected teacher got her job back.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity and grammatical correctness, rephrase sentences using stronger verbs like 'is certainly,' 'is definitely,' or 'it is clear that' to express conviction.

Common error

Avoid using "is surely that" in formal writing. It often sounds stilted; instead, opt for more direct expressions of certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is surely that" serves to introduce a conclusion or a statement that the speaker believes to be undoubtedly true. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is not considered grammatically sound in standard written English. It aims to express certainty, but its structure is often perceived as awkward.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "is surely that" attempts to express strong conviction, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English, according to Ludwig AI. More effective alternatives include "is certainly that" or "it is clear that". Its usage is infrequent and spans across news, media, and science contexts. For clearer and more impactful writing, opt for more direct and grammatically sound expressions of certainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Is certainly that

Replaces "surely" with "certainly", emphasizing the lack of doubt in the statement.

Is definitely that

Substitutes "surely" with "definitely", strengthening the affirmation.

It is clear that

Replaces the entire phrase with a more direct expression of obviousness.

It is evident that

Emphasizes that the conclusion is plain to see, replacing the original phrase.

It is undeniable that

Highlights the incontrovertible nature of the statement, instead of "is surely that".

It must be that

Indicates a high degree of certainty or logical necessity as a conclusion.

It follows that

Suggests a logical consequence or deduction, replacing the original wording.

One can conclude that

Offers a formal way of stating a conclusion based on evidence.

The conclusion is that

Directly states the conclusion with clarity and without ambiguity.

It is reasonable to assume that

Indicates a logical assumption derived from the context, instead of using "is surely that".

FAQs

What can I say instead of "is surely that"?

You can use alternatives like "is certainly that", "is definitely that", or "it is clear that" depending on the context.

How can I improve the sentence structure when using "is surely that"?

Consider replacing the phrase with a more direct statement. For example, instead of "The problem is surely that...", try "The problem is that..." or "Clearly, the problem is..."

Is "is surely that" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "is surely that" isn't the most grammatically sound phrasing. It's better to use stronger verbs or clearer constructions to convey certainty.

What's the difference between "is surely that" and "is certainly that"?

"Is certainly that" is a more grammatically standard and emphatic way of expressing certainty compared to "is surely that", which can sound awkward.