looks certain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looks certain" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means something appears or seems to be certain or definite. Example: The weather forecast for tomorrow looks certain, with a 90% chance of rain.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But an offering looks certain to succeed.

The Economist

But Medicaid looks certain to get bigger.

The Economist

It looks certain to continue.

The Guardian

The death toll looks certain to rise.

The Guardian

Polling day now looks certain to be on 6 May.

Independent

In contrast, the fate of the other candidates looks certain.

The Economist

Mr. Watt looks certain to face a confirmation fight.

The New York Times

Next season looks certain to see improvement at Kingsholm.

The Guardian - Sport

He looks certain to qualify for the final.

The Guardian - Sport

Berlusconi's legal situation also looks certain to deteriorate.

The Guardian

He's 0-40 up and looks certain to break back.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing future events that appear inevitable, consider using "looks certain" to convey confidence and assurance in your forecast.

Common error

Avoid using "looks certain" when the situation is still uncertain or dependent on too many unpredictable factors. Instead, opt for phrases that convey possibility rather than near inevitability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks certain" functions as an assessment of probability, indicating that, based on available evidence, an outcome is highly likely but not guaranteed. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used to predict future events or evaluate current situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "looks certain" is a commonly used expression to convey a strong likelihood or near certainty about a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical structure is correct, and its usage is widespread across various news and media outlets. While it expresses a high degree of confidence, it also implicitly acknowledges a slight possibility of an alternative outcome. When using "looks certain", ensure that your assessment is based on solid evidence and avoid overstating the certainty in situations where there's significant unpredictability. Alternatives like "appears inevitable" or "seems assured" can offer nuanced variations depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is all but certain

Underscores that only very unlikely events could prevent the outcome.

appears inevitable

Emphasizes the unavoidable nature of the outcome, focusing on its destiny-like quality.

is practically a done deal

Indicates the agreement or decision is almost finalized, leaving very little room for changes.

seems assured

Highlights the confidence and lack of doubt surrounding the event.

is virtually guaranteed

Stresses the near impossibility of failure, emphasizing external factors ensuring success.

is highly probable

Focuses on the high likelihood based on current evidence and trends.

can be confidently predicted

Emphasizes the ability to foresee the outcome with a high degree of assurance.

is poised to happen

Highlights the readiness and the circumstances are already set for the event to occur.

is on track to occur

Indicates the event is progressing as planned, with no significant obstacles in the way.

is set to transpire

Suggests a planned or predetermined occurrence, often used in more formal contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "looks certain" in a sentence?

You can use "looks certain" to indicate a high probability of something happening, as in "The deal "looks certain to go ahead"" or "He "looks certain to win" the election".

What's the difference between "looks certain" and "is certain"?

"Looks certain" suggests an assessment based on current evidence, whereas "is certain" implies absolute certainty. "Looks certain" acknowledges a possibility, however slim, of a different outcome, while "is certain" does not.

Which is correct, "looks certain" or "seems certain"?

Both "looks certain" and "seems certain" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice often depends on stylistic preference. "Appears certain" is another suitable alternative.

What can I say instead of "looks certain"?

You can use alternatives like "appears inevitable", "seems assured", or "is virtually guaranteed" depending on the specific context.