must likely

USAGE SUMMARY

"must likely" is not correct and should not be used in written English.
It should be written as "most likely." For example: It is most likely that the meeting will be cancelled due to rainy weather.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

He noted that "from hour to hour we ripe and ripe, and then from hour to hour we rot and rot" (As You Like It) and that "golden girls and lads all must, likely chimney sweepers, come to dust" (Cymbeline).

Huffington Post

Where they must likely withhold judgment for years yet is on how he handled the aftermath.

The Economist

To be sure, the enactment of anything resembling the Citizens Climate Lobby proposal or its payroll-tax cousin must likely await the day when Democrats control all three elected components of the Federal government.

The New Yorker

These are all complicated matters and a rush to draft legislation within 100 days must likely put at risk Grayling's previous promise to consult widely to ensure the plan is delivered in the most comprehensive and credible way.

The Guardian

Direct proof of a watery interior must likely await another mission, which may not come for decades.

Science Magazine

Real answers to major questions about the unity, diversity, and nature of pleasure and its relations to pain, motivation, awareness, and value must likely await further results of this new science and their scientifically informed and philosophically sensitive interpretation.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Though the £25m signing of Everton's Marouane Fellaini looks likely, they must probably meet the full £30m release clause to secure Atletic Bilbao's playmaker Ander Herrera.

Independent

Since France will not want to be left in the cold and America does not like to bear burdens alone, some form of reconciliation must be likely.

The Economist

So the BEA must estimate likely future royalty fees, and translate them into today's money to value the investment.

The Economist

If Boris Johnson won't come out against Britain's membership of the European Union, then Theresa May must be likely to.

Independent

Axes of this construction are aligned with significant risings and settings of the sun and moon, but the idea that the circle was built for a religious purpose must remain likely rather than certain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "most likely" instead of "must likely" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. This will improve the credibility of your writing.

Common error

Many writers mistakenly use "must likely", possibly due to confusion between the modal verb "must" and the superlative adverb "most". Remember that "most" is the correct choice to express probability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must likely" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to express a high probability. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "most likely".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "must likely" appears in various contexts, including science, news, and online wikis, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI correctly identifies that the proper phrase to use is "most likely" to express a high probability. It's important to avoid "must likely" in your writing to maintain credibility. Remember that alternatives like "very likely" or "highly probable" can also effectively convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most likely

Replaces "must" with "most" to correct the grammatical error, expressing the highest probability.

very likely

Indicates a high probability, similar to "most likely".

highly probable

Emphasizes the probability using a more formal tone.

almost certainly

Conveys a strong degree of certainty, close to absolute.

in all likelihood

A formal expression indicating a strong probability.

presumably

Suggests something is likely based on assumption or evidence.

it is to be expected

Indicates an anticipation or strong likelihood of an event.

as likely as not

Indicates that an event is probable.

odds are

An informal way to express probability.

chances are

An informal expression indicating probability.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "must likely"?

The correct phrase is "most likely". "Must likely" is grammatically incorrect.

How can I use "most likely" in a sentence?

Use "most likely" to indicate a high probability or expectation. For example, "It is most likely that the event will be postponed due to weather."

What alternatives can I use instead of "most likely"?

You can use alternatives such as "very likely", "highly probable", or "almost certainly" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "most likely" and "must"?

"Most likely" expresses a high degree of probability, while "must" expresses necessity or obligation. They are used in different contexts and have distinct meanings.