it is relatively certain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is relatively certain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a degree of confidence about a situation or outcome, indicating that while there is some uncertainty, the likelihood is still high. Example: "Based on the data we have collected, it is relatively certain that the project will be completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

BP management should not even think about a dividend until it is relatively certain of its final liability related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill something that is some time off.

Forbes

"In the United States, they realise that this is wrong, and they have a 95-year copyright protection period, so at least it is relatively certain that the artist will be dead by the time the copyright becomes public property.

The Guardian - Business

Since the confidence intervals were small, it is relatively certain that the population values of the coefficients are similar to the estimated values.

BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But I'm relatively certain most don't have a welcome center with a D.J. playing a reggae version of Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box".

The New York Times

From the recurrence of the words fuega and perdicion, I'm relatively certain I was giving everybody the heads-up on Armageddon.

Vice

The business, grim as it is, is relatively certain, as long as you get the math right.

The New Yorker

The effect of alignment bias is maximal for random sequences where it results in a highly uncertain alignment with spurious similarities; it is minimal for sequences of high similarity where the alignment is relatively certain; and the bias vanishes in the limiting case of long identical sequences where no alignment uncertainty exists.

Biology Direct

Indeed, the Art Deco facade may be the only aspect of the Metro's future that is relatively certain.

The New York Times

Although the samples collected on site last week by United Nations weapons inspectors are still being analyzed, the BND is relatively certain that the chemical agent in question in sarin.

The Guardian

The mass loading is relatively certain for the large number of proposed OWS.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

What is relatively certain is that Xunzi was born in the northern state of Zhao towards the end of the 4th century B.C.E., that he flourished in the middle of the 3rd century, and that he died at an old age sometime after 238.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is relatively certain" when you want to express a strong belief in something while acknowledging a small degree of uncertainty. Ensure the context supports a reasonable basis for this level of confidence.

Common error

Avoid using "it is relatively certain" when the evidence is weak or speculative. Overstating your confidence can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is relatively certain" functions as an epistemic modifier, indicating the speaker's degree of confidence in a statement. Ludwig's examples show its use in contexts where a conclusion is highly probable but not absolutely guaranteed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

17%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is relatively certain" is a phrase used to express a strong degree of confidence while acknowledging some level of uncertainty. As Ludwig AI notes, this phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific writing. While not extremely common, its usage is well-established. Related phrases like "it is fairly certain" or "it is highly probable" can serve as effective alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is fairly certain

Replaces "relatively" with "fairly", indicating a slightly weaker degree of certainty.

it is quite certain

Uses "quite" instead of "relatively" to express a similar level of confidence.

it is reasonably certain

Substitutes "relatively" with "reasonably", suggesting a logical basis for the certainty.

it is largely certain

Emphasizes the extent to which something is certain, implying a small margin of doubt.

it is mostly certain

Similar to "largely certain", indicating that certainty outweighs uncertainty.

it is highly probable

Shifts from "certain" to "probable", focusing on the likelihood of an event.

it is very likely

Expresses a strong expectation of something happening or being true.

one can be reasonably sure

Changes the structure to focus on the subject's confidence, using "reasonably sure".

there's a good chance

Uses a more informal expression to convey a strong possibility.

the odds are in favor of

Implies that the conditions or circumstances suggest a particular outcome is likely.

FAQs

What does "it is relatively certain" mean?

It means that something is highly likely or probable, but there's still a small degree of uncertainty. It suggests a strong belief based on available evidence.

What can I say instead of "it is relatively certain"?

You can use alternatives like "it is fairly certain", "it is quite certain", or "it is highly probable" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "it is relatively certain" formal or informal?

The phrase "it is relatively certain" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more informal options like "there's a good chance" might be preferable in casual settings.

How to use "it is relatively certain" in a sentence?

You can use "it is relatively certain" to express a high degree of confidence about a future event or a present state based on available evidence. For example, "It is relatively certain that the project will be completed on time, given the current progress".