it certainly was

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "it certainly was" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this expression when you are expressing agreement with a statement that someone has just made, or when you are confirming that something is the case. For example: Person 1: "The party was a lot of fun!" Person 2: "It certainly was!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But for its time, it certainly was.

The Guardian - Books

It certainly was.

University of California, Berkeley

(That it certainly was).

The New Yorker

It certainly was today".

The New York Times - Sports

Dangerous it certainly was.

The New York Times - Books

It certainly was for us.

The New York Times

And upsetting it certainly was.

Independent

For him it certainly was.

The New York Times - Magazine

It certainly was not perfect.

The New York Times - Sports

It certainly was for Marilyn.

The New York Times

For me, it certainly was.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it certainly was" to emphatically agree with a previous statement or observation. It adds a touch of formality and conviction to your response.

Common error

Avoid using "it certainly was" excessively in very casual conversations. Simpler affirmations like "yes, it was" or "definitely" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it certainly was" functions as an affirmative response or confirmation. As Ludwig AI suggests, it expresses strong agreement with a previous statement. It emphasizes the speaker's conviction that something is indeed the case.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it certainly was" is a grammatically correct and useful phrase for expressing strong agreement or confirmation. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable for a variety of contexts, ranging from news reporting to academic discussions. While versatile, it's important to consider the register and avoid overuse in overly informal settings. Alternatives such as "it definitely was" or "indeed it was" can provide subtle variations in tone. While "it certainly was" is not extremely common, according to the Ludwig examples, it is definitely a viable and effective option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it definitely was

Replaces "certainly" with "definitely", implying a strong degree of agreement.

it most certainly was

Adds "most" to intensify the certainty of the agreement.

it absolutely was

Emphasizes the agreement with "absolutely", indicating complete certainty.

it positively was

Similar to "absolutely", but may carry a slightly more enthusiastic tone.

it assuredly was

Uses "assuredly" for a more formal and emphatic agreement.

it undeniably was

Indicates that the statement is impossible to deny or dispute.

it unquestionably was

Similar to "undeniably", suggesting the statement is beyond any question.

indeed it was

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of expressing agreement.

without a doubt it was

Expresses agreement by stating there is no reason to doubt the statement.

that's certainly true

Shifts the focus to the truthfulness of a statement, while still conveying agreement.

FAQs

How can I use "it certainly was" in a sentence?

Use "it certainly was" to strongly affirm a previous statement. For example, if someone says, "That movie was amazing," you can reply, "It certainly was!"

What's the difference between "it certainly was" and "it definitely was"?

Both phrases express strong agreement, but "it certainly was" is slightly more formal. "It definitely was" is a more common and casual alternative.

Is "it certainly was" the same as "indeed it was"?

While similar in meaning, "it certainly was" is more common in modern usage. "Indeed it was" sounds more formal and somewhat archaic.

When should I avoid using "it certainly was"?

Avoid using "it certainly was" in very informal situations where simpler agreement phrases like "yes" or "definitely" would suffice. Overusing it can sound stilted.