it is pretty certain

USAGE SUMMARY

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

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

In a letter of August 1898 to Mrs HG Wells, Gissing wrote about his elder son Walter, then aged six: "It is pretty certain that the child's life is endangered whilst he remains with that madwoman.

The Guardian - Books

It is pretty certain that the fans did not travel to the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y., last Saturday to see only the last-place Power, which has now lost six straight matches.

The New York Times - Sports

Given that around one in four people are thought to suffer from mental health problems each year, it is pretty certain that a reasonable proportion of those who are mentally ill will end up practising science.

The Guardian

For this reason it is pretty certain that, left to his own devices, George Osborne would not wish to accept the Committee on Climate Change's carbon budget advice this time.

The Guardian

"You can say, 'We looked into this as soon as we heard about it.' " It is pretty certain that everyone at Fidelity National wishes they had never heard about Mr. Norton, whose confessed crimes and damaging testimony in civil depositions have given rise to a snarl of litigation.

The New York Times

"It is pretty certain that if the London economy does hiccup there will be a slowdown in immigration to Britain," says John Salt, head of the Migration Research Unit at University College London.London may also become less popular with rich foreigners, who have given it an increasingly plutocratic feel in recent years.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Inadequate Initial Recognition of Importance: If the importance of a PVP isn't correctly framed when it is first acquired or created by the organization and no one is given or takes responsibility for it then it's pretty certain that its importance will be discovered the first time the PVP isn't renewed or restarted or whatever is required.

Forbes

"It's pretty certain," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

They are not going to take his case to court unless it's pretty certain to succeed.

The Guardian

If in fact the photos are now gone, as reported above, I would say that it's pretty certain he is gone, too".

The New Yorker

If he was alive, it's pretty certain that Michael Jackson would be appearing on the season finale; as it is Prince has been tempted out of retirement.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is pretty certain" to express a confident prediction or assessment when you have a reasonable basis for your belief. It's stronger than saying something is 'likely' but not as definitive as saying it's 'certain'.

Common error

Avoid using "it is pretty certain" when the situation involves significant unknowns or potential for unexpected outcomes. If there is considerable uncertainty, a phrase like "it is likely" or "it is possible" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is pretty certain" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying an implied verb. It serves to qualify a statement, indicating a high degree of confidence or probability, though not absolute certainty. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is pretty certain" is a useful phrase for expressing a strong belief or expectation, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and most commonly found in news and media contexts. While not appropriate for formal academic writing where precision is key, it effectively conveys a high degree of probability in general communication. Using related phrases like "it is quite likely" or "it is fairly certain" can provide nuanced alternatives, depending on the desired level of emphasis. Remember to consider the context and avoid overstating the level of certainty when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is quite likely

Replaces "pretty certain" with "quite likely" to express a similar degree of probability.

it is fairly certain

Substitutes "pretty" with "fairly" to convey a slightly milder sense of assurance.

it is almost certain

Indicates a very high probability, bordering on complete certainty.

it is highly probable

Uses more formal language to express a strong likelihood.

it is very likely

Replaces "pretty certain" with "very likely" for a simpler expression of probability.

it is reasonably certain

Conveys a sense of certainty based on reasonable grounds or evidence.

it is practically certain

Suggests that the outcome is so likely as to be virtually guaranteed.

one can be sure that

Shifts the focus to the speaker's confidence in the statement.

there's a strong likelihood

Emphasizes the strength of the probability.

the odds are high that

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate a favorable probability.

FAQs

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

You can use "it is pretty certain" to express a strong belief or expectation about a future event or a current situation. For example, "Given the current economic climate, "it is pretty certain" that interest rates will remain low."

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

Alternatives to "it is pretty certain" include "it is quite likely", "it is fairly certain", and "it is almost certain", each conveying a slightly different nuance of probability.

Is "it is pretty certain" formal or informal?

"It is pretty certain" is generally considered neutral in tone and suitable for both informal and semi-formal contexts. However, in highly formal or academic writing, more precise language might be preferred.

When should I avoid using "it is pretty certain"?

Avoid using "it is pretty certain" if you need to convey absolute certainty or if the situation involves substantial ambiguity. In such cases, consider phrases like "it is definite" or "it is possible", respectively.