limited certainty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "limited certainty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or knowledge that is not fully assured or definite, indicating a degree of doubt or ambiguity. Example: "The results of the experiment provided limited certainty about the effectiveness of the new drug."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Since traders sometimes closely replicating ceremonial tsantsa when shrinking and decorating heads for trade, limited certainty can be prescribed to this category.

Journal of Cultural Heritage

TSDM is becoming increasingly important as a knowledge management tool where it is expected to reveal knowledge structures that can guide decision making in conditions of limited certainty.

Applied Soft Computing

Presenting only deterministic results can be misleading and may show the intervention to be highly cost-effective, yet closer scrutiny of the confidence intervals in some cases reveals very limited certainty around the result [4].

Health Economics Review

Best available evidence offers limited certainty about the impact of care management for patients with type 2 diabetes.

BMC Health Services Research

Genetic testing now enables us to predict, with limited certainty, an event that may occur in the distant future.

Critical Care

Although extensive care was taken to exclude metastatic disease, limited certainty of primary ovarian tumor versus metastatic disease holds true for virtually all studies on MC and MBOT, and remains a concern here.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

In a decisional sphere burdened by such limited prognostic certainties, an individual approach is infinitely more acceptable than a statistical approach: any decision ought to be based upon the individual circumstances of each newborn rather than on reference to guidelines, especially if these are based on gestational age.

BMC Medical Ethics

For the certainties and limited variables that govern the game of the chess and make it itself simply fail to obtain in the less neatly-ordered spheres of politics and society.

The Guardian - Opinion

Refugees are given only five years' limited leave, which denies them certainty about their future and undermines the government's goal to build an integrated and cohesive Britain.

The Guardian - Opinion

What little we know with certainty comes from limited congressional investigations and a report of the Inspector General - but even these outline sketches are enough to reveal events both horrible and shameful.

Huffington Post

However, representativeness could not be confirmed with certainty due to limited data about national primary care clinician characteristics.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "limited certainty", clearly define the specific area or aspect to which the limitation applies to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid presenting information with "limited certainty" as definitive or conclusive. Instead, acknowledge the uncertainty and potential limitations to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "limited certainty" functions as a qualifier, specifically an adjective-noun combination, that modifies the degree of assurance or confidence associated with a particular statement, prediction, or conclusion. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is suitable for describing situations lacking complete assurance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "limited certainty" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey a measured level of confidence, acknowledging the presence of some doubt or ambiguity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is acceptable for use in English writing. It is most frequently found in scientific and news contexts, indicating its utility in discussing topics where definitive conclusions are elusive. The best practice is to specify the area to which the limitation applies, avoiding overstatements of confidence. While alternatives like "partial certainty" and "some doubt" exist, "limited certainty" offers a balanced approach to expressing cautious assurance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uncertainty to a degree

Emphasizes the presence of uncertainty, though not absolute.

partial certainty

Highlights that certainty exists, but not in its entirety.

some doubt

Focuses on the presence of doubt rather than certainty.

lack of full assurance

Shifts the focus to the absence of complete confidence.

qualified confidence

Implies that confidence exists but is subject to conditions or limitations.

relative uncertainty

Highlights uncertainty in relation to a specific context or benchmark.

incomplete knowledge

Focuses on the state of having an imperfect understanding.

tentative conclusion

Suggests that a conclusion has been reached but is not definitive.

guarded optimism

Indicates a positive outlook tempered by caution or reservations.

conditional probability

Highlights that the likelihood of an event depends on other factors.

FAQs

How can I use "limited certainty" in a sentence?

You can use "limited certainty" to describe situations where knowledge or predictions are not fully assured. For example, "There is "limited certainty" about the long-term effects of the treatment."

What are some alternatives to "limited certainty"?

Alternatives to "limited certainty" include phrases like "partial certainty", "some doubt", or "lack of full assurance", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "limited certainty" grammatically correct?

Yes, "limited certainty" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both academic and general writing. It's considered a standard and acceptable phrase.

What is the difference between "limited certainty" and "complete certainty"?

"Limited certainty" indicates that there is some level of doubt or uncertainty, while "complete certainty" suggests there is no doubt whatsoever. Use "limited certainty" when you want to acknowledge some degree of uncertainty.