it is not sure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is not sure" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate expression would be "it is not certain." Example: "While we have some evidence, it is not certain that the results will be the same in future experiments."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Google has admitted in the past that it is not sure of the exact date of its birthday, but September 1998 was the month that it was incorporated after investor Andy Bechtolsheim had written out a check to Google for $100,000, a year after the google.com domain was registered.

The Guardian - Tech

The company could invest in its factories to make wider plates, or even vessels, but it is not sure the market is there.

The New York Times

The family plans to rebuild, but it is not sure when.

The New York Times

It may also have registered a manhole cover in Cambridge, but it is not sure.

The Guardian

Alliant says it can expand that production, but it is not sure by how much.

The New York Times

Taro has opposed this nomination and stated that it is not sure whether the candidates have adequate "financial and accounting expertise".

The New York Times

And it is not sure whether it should ask for the names and addresses of all the entities with which Environment Tobago does business.

The New York Times

The Pentagon concedes that it is not sure the PLA was behind such attacks, but argues that "authoritative" analysts in the PLA see cyber-warfare as important.The new arsenalWhat does this amount to?

The Economist

SEOUL, South Korea — The United States needs more time to decide on possible aid for North Korea because it is not sure humanitarian assistance would reach the people in need, the top American aid official said on Thursday.

The New York Times

The commission, which on Monday postponed a meeting at which it had planned to issue an interim report, now says it is not sure when the report might be ready.

The New York Times

Mr. Nachar said the main reason the opposition has failed to shape a transitional government so far is that it is not sure such a government would receive the international recognition and support it would need to function.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing uncertainty, use grammatically correct alternatives such as "it is not certain" or "it is unclear" to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "it is not sure" in formal documents or academic papers. Although commonly used, it deviates from standard English grammar and can detract from the professionalism of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is not sure" functions as an expression of uncertainty. Despite its frequent usage, as seen in the Ludwig examples, Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically incorrect. Therefore, it's best suited for informal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it is not sure" is frequently used across various sources, including news media and scientific publications, Ludwig AI analysis reveals it's grammatically incorrect in standard English. Therefore, it's crucial to exercise caution when using this phrase, especially in formal writing. Opting for grammatically correct alternatives like "it is not certain" or "it is uncertain" can significantly enhance the clarity and credibility of your communication. When in doubt, prioritize grammatical accuracy to maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is uncertain

Replaces "sure" with "uncertain", a more grammatically accepted synonym.

it is not certain

Substitutes "sure" with "certain", providing a more formal and grammatically sound alternative.

it is doubtful

Uses "doubtful" to emphasize the lack of confidence in something.

it is questionable

Employs "questionable" to suggest that something is open to doubt or debate.

it is unclear

Replaces the entire phrase to focus on the lack of clarity about a situation.

it is not definite

Uses "definite" to indicate the absence of a confirmed or established fact.

it is not guaranteed

Emphasizes that there is no assurance or promise of a particular outcome.

it remains to be seen

Indicates that the outcome is still unknown and will only become clear in the future.

the outcome is uncertain

Shifts the focus to the uncertainty of the outcome itself.

the situation is ambiguous

Highlights the ambiguity or lack of clarity in the present circumstances.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "it is not sure"?

You can use alternatives like "it is uncertain", "it is not certain", or "it is unclear" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it is not sure" or "it is not certain"?

"It is not certain" is the grammatically correct and preferred phrase in formal English. "It is not sure" is generally considered incorrect.

Is "it is not sure" grammatically correct?

No, "it is not sure" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. More appropriate alternatives include "it is not certain" or "it is uncertain".

How can I use the phrase "it is uncertain" in a sentence?

You can use "it is uncertain" to express doubt or lack of clarity about a future event or outcome. For example, "It is uncertain whether the project will be completed on time".