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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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it very likely

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it very likely" is not correct in English.
The correct form would be "it is very likely" or "it’s likely." Example: "Based on the current data, it is very likely that we will meet our sales targets this quarter."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When 2percentt of their take-home pay disappeared at the beginning of 2013, it very likely felt like a tax hike.

An all-in-one IT solution sounds too good to be true, and it very likely is.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Its critical biological functions make it very likely that AM dysfunctions also would have an important pathogenetic role in many diseases [ 12, 13].

Its de novo occurrence in the family renders it very likely that c.220G>A, p.G74R is a pathogenic mutation.

It very likely did.

News & Media

The New York Times

It very likely does.

News & Media

The New Yorker

For him, it very likely amounted to the same thing.

Nor is it very likely to effect the return of the hapless corporal, unharmed.

News & Media

The Economist

That summed up the name experience for me, as it very likely will for Apple too.

The Senate's action makes it very likely that the bill will become law.

News & Media

The New York Times

Is it very likely or merely likely that flooding will increase?

News & Media

The Guardian
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always include the auxiliary verb "is" before "very likely" to ensure grammatical correctness. For example, use "it is very likely" instead of "it very likely".

Common error

A common mistake is to omit the auxiliary verb "is" before "very likely". This creates a grammatically incorrect phrase. Always ensure you include "is" to maintain proper sentence structure.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, expressing a high degree of probability or likelihood. Despite its frequent use, as Ludwig showcases, the phrase lacks the auxiliary verb "is", rendering it grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "it very likely" is commonly used, as demonstrated by Ludwig's extensive collection of examples, it is grammatically incorrect due to the missing auxiliary verb "is". The corrected version, "it is very likely", should be favored in formal writing and speech. Ludwig showcases usage across various contexts, predominantly in news, scientific, and academic domains. Despite its frequent appearance, adherence to grammatical correctness is crucial. Remember to include the auxiliary verb "is" before "very likely" to ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions(6)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is very probable

Changes the structure to include the auxiliary verb "is", making the sentence grammatically correct.

it is highly likely

Replaces "very" with "highly" and includes the auxiliary verb "is", resulting in a more formal and grammatically sound phrase.

it is quite likely

Substitutes "very" with "quite" and incorporates the auxiliary verb "is", providing a slightly less intense degree of probability while maintaining grammatical correctness.

it is extremely likely

Emphasizes the likelihood with "extremely" and adds the auxiliary verb "is", increasing the intensity of the probability while adhering to grammatical standards.

it very probably will

Rearranges the sentence structure and replaces "likely" with "probably", incorporating the auxiliary verb "will" to denote future likelihood.

it is very possible

Shifts from "likely" to "possible", indicating a change from probable to feasible, while also adding the auxiliary verb "is" to form a complete sentence.

it seems very likely

Introduces "seems" to suggest that the likelihood is based on observation or evidence, and incorporates the auxiliary verb "is".

it appears very likely

Similar to "seems", "appears" also indicates a likelihood based on observation, and includes the auxiliary verb "is".

it would seem likely

Uses "would seem" to create a more tentative tone, suggesting a likelihood based on inference rather than certainty.

it is reasonably likely

Replaces "very" with "reasonably" and includes the auxiliary verb "is", softening the degree of likelihood to indicate that it is plausible but not guaranteed.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "it very likely" in a sentence?

The grammatically correct form is "it is very likely". Ensure you include the auxiliary verb "is" to create a complete and correct sentence.

What are some alternatives to saying "it very likely"?

You can use alternatives such as "it is very probable", "it is highly likely", or "it is quite likely".

Is "it very likely" grammatically correct?

No, "it very likely" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "it is very likely", which includes the necessary auxiliary verb "is".

What's the difference between "it very likely" and "it is very likely"?

The phrase "it very likely" is grammatically incorrect due to the omission of the auxiliary verb "is". The correct phrase, "it is very likely", includes the verb and forms a complete, grammatically sound sentence.

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Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: