likely to be correct

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "likely to be correct" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are making a statement about the possibility or probability of something being correct. For example: "The answer we have given is likely to be correct."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Their answers are less likely to be correct, and they will take longer to get.

The New York Times

To this reader, the comma also seems more likely to be correct for style-guide reasons.

The Economist

Tetlock found that experts who claimed to be more certain were more in demand in the media, even though they were less likely to be correct.

The New Yorker

As we discovered during the Iraq dossier affair the views of the joint intelligence committee on some subjects are no more likely to be correct than anyone else's.

The Guardian - Opinion

When choosing between alternatives, we can only ask which is more likely to be correct, and which supporting argument is more plausible.

The New York Times

If each member of a jury has only partial information, the majority decision is more likely to be correct than a decision arrived at by an individual juror.

The Economist

He said, "I thus believe that it is likely that if the peak holds up as more data comes in, the planetary explanation is likely to be correct".

The New York Times - Science

Estimates range from 50,000 to 375,000 people in the United States, with the higher figure more likely to be correct, said Dr. Mark Luciano, a neurosurgeon at the Cleveland Clinic.

The New York Times

"It's not unfair, Ms Portelli, because you needed to form a professional view about which was more likely to be correct in order to form a view about whether the child was at risk of harm," Doyle said.

The Guardian

"Trump's razor:" the stupidest reason is most likely to be correct.

TechCrunch

As in Experiment 1, faster responses were more likely to be correct than slower responses.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "likely to be correct" when you want to convey a reasonable expectation of accuracy or validity based on available evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "likely to be correct" when you have definitive proof. Reserve it for situations where there's a degree of uncertainty or probability involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "likely to be correct" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It expresses a judgment about the probability that something is accurate or valid. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "likely to be correct" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a reasonable expectation of accuracy. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, from scientific discussions to news reports. While it conveys confidence, it's best used when there's a degree of uncertainty, avoiding overstatement in situations where certainty is already established. Alternative phrases like "probably accurate" and "most likely accurate" can add nuance, but "likely to be correct" remains a versatile and widely accepted choice for expressing probabilistic correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most likely accurate

Adds emphasis on the high probability of being accurate.

probably accurate

Focuses on accuracy rather than a general correctness.

probably right

Uses the simpler word "right" instead of "correct".

very likely true

Replaces "correct" with "true" focusing on truthfulness.

plausibly accurate

Highlights the plausibility or believability of something being accurate.

presumably correct

Implies that something is assumed to be correct based on evidence.

potentially accurate

Indicates a possibility of accuracy rather than a high likelihood.

apparently correct

Indicates that something seems to be correct based on initial assessment.

conceivably correct

Suggests that something is imaginable or possible to be correct.

ostensibly correct

Similar to "apparently", but implies a more superficial correctness.

FAQs

How can I use "likely to be correct" in a sentence?

You can use "likely to be correct" to express that something has a high probability of being accurate. For example, "Based on the data, this conclusion is "likely to be correct"."

What are some alternatives to "likely to be correct"?

Some alternatives include "probably accurate", "most likely accurate", or "probably right", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "likely to be correct" or "likely to be accurate"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but the best choice depends on the context. "Likely to be correct" is more general, while "likely to be accurate" specifically refers to precision or factual correctness.

What is the difference between "likely to be correct" and "possibly correct"?

"Likely to be correct" implies a higher probability than "possibly correct". The former suggests a good reason to believe in its correctness, while the latter only indicates a potential, but not necessarily probable, correctness.