it is fairly certain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is fairly certain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong belief or likelihood about a situation or outcome. Example: "Based on the evidence presented, it is fairly certain that the project will be completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

It is fairly certain the Mets will soon be finished searching for reasons for Benitez's blowups.

The New York Times - Sports

Hence, it is fairly certain that there were no observations of Neptune prior to the use of telescopes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is fairly certain that once the Senate agreed to ratification, most of the countries still waiting would follow.

The New York Times

But it is fairly certain that, to steal Shelley's verse once more, the Rolling Stones will not let us forget them "till the Future dares/Forget the Past".

The Guardian - Music

It appears unlikely, however, that Continental will pursue a deal until it is fairly certain that Delta and Northwest are going to merge.

The New York Times

But it is fairly certain that, as Hugh Pearman, the architecture critic who edits the RIBA Journal, put it, "What might have been a receptive audience is now very likely to be hostile".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Mr. Blumberg added that it was fairly certain that Penn South would appeal the recent decision.

The New York Times

"It's fairly certain that all of the banks that were historically in this business will go back into this business if they haven't already," Mr. Giancaterino said.

The New York Times

"We haven't formally declared it, but I think it's fairly certain that he will exercise his option," Strickland said.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's fairly certain that unless there is compelling testimony we are still going to approve this thing," Chuck Lesnick, the City Council president, said, citing health and environmental problems caused by leaf blowers because they are not held to the same standards as other gas-powered machines, like cars.

The New York Times

It was fairly certain, too, that thoughtful Israelis would increasingly fret over the instability of their politics, while more and more others, not necessarily less caring or less patriotic, would switch off in apathy, in effect opting out of the democratic process.Perhaps the mounting disaffection will trigger the kind of massive crisis that engenders radical reform.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To fine-tune the phrase, select synonyms or related phrases like "it is quite certain" or "it is almost certain" /s/it+is+almost+certain to express subtle variations in certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "it is fairly certain" when the situation is based on speculation or wishful thinking; instead, use qualifiers like "it is possible" or "it is likely" to reflect the actual level of assurance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is fairly certain" functions as an epistemic modal, indicating a speaker's assessment of the likelihood of a situation. Ludwig examples show it used to convey a strong belief, short of absolute certainty. It modifies a statement to reflect the speaker's confidence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

23%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is fairly certain" is a versatile phrase used to express a confident assessment or prediction. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability across diverse contexts, especially in news, encyclopedias, and scientific domains. The phrase strikes a balance between assurance and acknowledgment of potential uncertainty. To enhance your writing, remember to use this phrase when you want to convey a strong, evidence-based belief and explore the related alternatives to express nuances in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is quite certain

Replaces 'fairly' with 'quite', suggesting a slightly stronger degree of certainty.

it is reasonably certain

Substitutes 'fairly' with 'reasonably', indicating a moderate level of confidence based on available evidence.

it is pretty certain

Uses 'pretty' instead of 'fairly', offering a more informal tone while maintaining a similar level of assurance.

it is almost certain

Emphasizes the high probability of something occurring, suggesting a near-definite outcome.

it is highly likely

Shifts the focus to likelihood, conveying a strong probability of something being true or happening.

it is very probable

Replaces 'certain' with 'probable', highlighting the high chance of a particular outcome.

it is safe to say

Indicates that a statement can be made without significant risk of contradiction, implying a reasonable degree of certainty.

one can be fairly sure

Changes the sentence structure to focus on the person's level of sureness, while retaining a similar degree of certainty.

it seems quite definite

Uses 'definite' instead of 'certain', suggesting a clear and unambiguous outcome.

the evidence suggests strongly

Focuses on the strength of the supporting evidence, implying a high degree of certainty based on the available information.

FAQs

How can I use "it is fairly certain" in a sentence?

Use "it is fairly certain" to express a strong belief about a future event or current situation, as in, "It is fairly certain that the project will be completed on time."

What phrases are similar to "it is fairly certain"?

Similar phrases include "it is quite certain", "it is highly likely", and "it is reasonably certain", which all express a strong degree of confidence.

Is it better to say "it is fairly certain" or "it is almost certain"?

The choice depends on the context and the level of certainty. "It is almost certain" suggests a higher degree of confidence than "it is fairly certain".

When is it inappropriate to use "it is fairly certain"?

Avoid using "it is fairly certain" when you lack sufficient evidence or when the outcome is merely a possibility. In such cases, consider using phrases like "it is possible" or "it is likely" instead.