it was certain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was certain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong belief or assurance about a situation or outcome in the past. Example: "After reviewing all the evidence, it was certain that the decision was the right one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It can never live down the dishonest nature of its ultimatum, so framed that it was certain to be rejected by Egypt.

The Guardian

The Sunbed Association, which represents around a quarter of the UK's 4,000 salon owners, said it was certain none of its members were involved in the survey.

BBC

The Institute asked the one attorney general whom it was certain would back its conclusions to the hilt to write the introduction.

Huffington Post

It was certain more would follow.

The Guardian

It was certain he needed the change of scene.

The New York Times - Books

"It was certain parents that set this off".

The New York Times

It was certain death to try to shoot back".

The New York Times

Church officials said it was certain that Cardinal Hickey had advocated Bishop Lori's elevation.

The New York Times

It was certain if he would regain sight in the eye.

The New York Times - Sports

(It was certain only that nobody would make a dime out of the occasion).

The New York Times - Arts

It was certain to be big, complex and possibly precedent-setting.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was certain" to clearly convey a strong belief or assurance about a past situation or outcome. Ensure that the context supports this level of certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "it was certain" when the situation only suggests a high probability, not absolute certainty. Using phrases like "it was likely" or "it seemed certain" might be more appropriate in cases where complete assurance is lacking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was certain" functions as an assertion of high probability or inevitability. It conveys a strong sense of conviction regarding a past event or state. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was certain" is a versatile phrase used to express a strong degree of confidence or inevitability regarding a past event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. While it is generally considered neutral in register, careful attention should be paid to the context to ensure that the strength of the assertion aligns with the available evidence. Alternatives such as "it was clear" or "it was likely" may be more appropriate when the level of confidence is less absolute. Its high frequency in news media and academic writing underscores its importance in conveying authoritative statements and evidence-based conclusions. Avoid overstating certainty when the evidence is not conclusive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was assured

Uses "assured" instead of "certain", implying guaranteed outcome.

it was guaranteed

Replaces "certain" with "guaranteed", indicating a promise or warranty.

it was sure to occur

Rephrases using "sure to occur", indicating a high probability.

it was inevitable

Substitutes "certain" with "inevitable", stressing the unavoidable nature of the event.

it was bound to happen

Uses an idiomatic expression to denote an expected outcome.

it was definitely going to happen

Adds emphasis with "definitely", reinforcing the certainty.

it was a foregone conclusion

Employs a more formal phrase emphasizing predictability.

it was beyond question

Implies that the outcome was so sure that it could not be questioned.

there was no doubt that

Expresses certainty by negating doubt.

it was predictable

Replaces certainty with predictability, suggesting an expected result based on known factors.

FAQs

How can I use "it was certain" in a sentence?

Use "it was certain" to express a firm conviction about something in the past. For example, "After the investigation, "it was certain" that he was guilty".

What are some alternatives to "it was certain"?

You can use alternatives like "it was clear", "it was assured", or "it was inevitable" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "it was certain" instead of "it was likely"?

"It was certain" should be used when you have a very high degree of confidence in the outcome, almost to the point of being without doubt. "It was likely" is better when there's a high probability but not complete assurance.

Is "it was certain" formal or informal?

"It was certain" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "it was assured" might be preferred in highly formal writing.