it was sure that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was sure that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is generally used to express certainty about a situation or outcome, but it is more common to use "it is certain that" or "it is sure that" instead. Example: "It was sure that the event would be a success, given the amount of preparation involved."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Richard C. Adkerson, president and chief executive of the company, Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold, which is based in Arizona, said after a meeting with Indonesia's energy minister, Jero Wacik, that the company would not resume work until it was sure that its operations were safe.

The New York Times

Despite Mr Ahmadinejad, most consider Iran to be a rational state actor susceptible to deterrence.Knowing that Israel already possesses a very large nuclear arsenal, Iran would have to be ready to sacrifice millions of its own people to destroy the Jewish state, unless it was sure that in a first strike it could destroy Israel's ability to strike back.

The Economist

And the paper's leading article appeared to agree, although it was sure that Cameron would come through it.

The Guardian

Separately, the European Union said it would not continue to buy fuel oil for Gaza until it was sure that Hamas would not tax the resulting electricity.

The New York Times

Paul Cherney, an analyst at S.& P. Marketscope, said that the Fed would hold off until it was sure that the recovery was in place and solid.

The New York Times

See articleAmerica said it would send military aid to Syrian rebels, adding that it was sure that forces loyal to Syria's president, Bashar Assad, had used chemical weapons against his own people.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Actually, I'm sure that's it.

TechCrunch

GREG: I'm sure that's it.

Huffington Post

MG: I'm sure that's it, yeah.

HuffPost

"It's sure that something will happen.

The Guardian

It is sure that the co-exposure groups enhanced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and genotoxicity compared to the mono-exposures.

Food and Chemical Toxicology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for formal writing, replace "it was sure that" with more accepted alternatives such as "it was certain that" or "it was clear that" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on the word "sure" to express certainty in formal contexts. While common in spoken language, "sure" can sound less authoritative in writing. Instead, opt for stronger, more precise alternatives like "certain", "evident", or "guaranteed" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was sure that" functions as a clause expressing certainty or confidence about a particular situation or outcome. However, Ludwig AI indicates it's not considered standard English. More accepted alternatives include "it was certain that" or "it was clear that."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

28%

Wiki

22%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it was sure that" is used to express certainty, Ludwig flags it as grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Instances of its usage are mainly found in news, media, and wiki sources. To ensure grammatical precision, especially in formal writing, it is best to replace it with alternatives like "it was certain that" or "it was clear that". These substitutions maintain the intended meaning while adhering to established grammatical norms. Therefore, while understandable, "it was sure that" should be approached with caution in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was certain that

Replaces "sure" with "certain", offering a more grammatically accepted alternative.

it was clear that

Emphasizes the obviousness of the situation, rather than simply the speaker's certainty.

it was evident that

Similar to "clear that", but suggests the certainty comes from displayed evidence.

it was obvious that

Highlights the lack of doubt surrounding the fact or situation.

it was guaranteed that

Conveys a stronger sense of assurance, as if a promise or condition made the outcome inevitable.

it was assured that

Implies someone has been reassured or has been made confident about something.

it was beyond doubt that

Expresses a high degree of certainty, negating any possibility of questioning the matter.

it was known that

Indicates that the information was generally accepted or publicly acknowledged.

one was sure that

Uses "one" to create a generalized subject expressing a similar sentiment of certainty.

i was confident that

Shifts the focus to a personal feeling of confidence about a certain outcome.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "it was sure that"?

For a more formal tone, replace "it was sure that" with phrases such as "it was certain that" or "it was clear that", which are grammatically standard and convey a similar meaning with greater precision.

Is "it was sure that" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "it was sure that" isn't considered grammatically correct in formal writing. Standard alternatives include "it was certain that" or "I was sure that", depending on the intended meaning.

How can I use "certain" instead of "sure" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "it was sure that the event would succeed", you could say "it was certain that the event would succeed". "Certain" provides a more formal and widely accepted way to express confidence about an outcome.

What's the difference between "it was sure that" and "I was sure that"?

"It was sure that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. "I was sure that" is correct and emphasizes a personal feeling of certainty. Use "it was certain that" to express a more objective level of confidence.