not at all certain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not at all certain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express doubt or a lack of confidence in a particular situation or outcome. Example: "I am not at all certain about the results of the experiment, as the data seems inconsistent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is not at all certain.

The Guardian - Opinion

Our safety is not at all certain.

The Guardian - Opinion

But as the researchers point out in the paper, that's not at all certain.

University of California, Berkeley

Electrical engineers, physicists and other scientists say such conclusions are possible but not at all certain.

The Washington Post

For the first time in nearly twenty years, the outcome is not at all certain.

The Economist

It is not at all certain that Congress will do both this year.

The New York Times

Whether Reid is correct about what this new reality means for the United States, however, is not at all certain.

Columbia University

The diversion the scientists propose would be much farther downstream, but where exactly is not at all certain.

The New York Times - Science

Countries now have little time to resolve fundamental issues, and success in Paris is not at all certain.

The Guardian

I'm not at all certain that's right, but it's a lesson that they have a great deal of conviction about.

The New Yorker

Clearly there is a power imbalance, one that makes the cultivation of new national leaders seem not at all certain.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not at all certain" to express a moderate to strong degree of doubt, especially when you want to avoid being overly negative or definitive.

Common error

While "not at all certain" is a valid expression, avoid using it excessively in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by incorporating synonyms like "highly doubtful" or "very unlikely" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not at all certain" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun to express a state of uncertainty or doubt. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Academia

7%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not at all certain" is a correct and commonly used adjectival phrase to express doubt or uncertainty. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, with a prevalent usage in News & Media, as well as in Academic and Scientific domains. While synonyms like "highly doubtful" or "very unlikely" exist, "not at all certain" offers a balanced and widely accepted way to convey a lack of confidence without being overly negative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far from sure

Highlights the lack of confidence in something.

quite uncertain

Suggests a considerable degree of uncertainty.

highly doubtful

Emphasizes a strong level of doubt.

very unlikely

Indicates a low probability of occurrence.

not very probable

Focuses on the low probability of an event.

open to question

Implies that something is debatable or unproven.

subject to doubt

Highlights that something is questionable.

debatable

Indicates the topic is open to discussion and disagreement.

questionable

Suggests that the validity or truth of something is in doubt.

iffy

An informal way of saying something is uncertain or unreliable.

FAQs

How can I use "not at all certain" in a sentence?

You can use "not at all certain" to express doubt or uncertainty about a future outcome or a present situation. For example, "I'm "not at all certain" that this plan will succeed".

What are some alternatives to "not at all certain"?

Some alternatives include "highly doubtful", "very unlikely", "far from sure", or "quite uncertain". The best choice depends on the context.

Is it better to say "not certain" or "not at all certain"?

"Not at all certain" emphasizes a stronger degree of uncertainty than simply "not certain". The choice depends on the level of doubt you wish to convey.

Which is more formal, "not at all certain" or "uncertain"?

"Uncertain" is generally more formal. "Not at all certain" adds emphasis but can be used in both formal and informal contexts.