not fully sure

USAGE SUMMARY

"not fully sure" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you need to express uncertainty about something. For example, "I'm not fully sure what to do next."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

We're not fully sure what's going on.

Harvard University

Maurizio Pollini, the soloist, was typically vivid and alert, but seemed not fully sure of his role in playing chill, bright fragments and explosive chords, while some of the orchestral players wanted to find humor in the music more than unsettling oddity and malaise.

The New York Times - Arts

"I am not fully sure.

BBC

The Jamaican has never won a Commonwealth medal but added: "We are going to discuss it, we are not fully sure if I will go but throughout the season we will decide if that will be a good thing to do".

BBC

"So, when you talk about such narrow margins, obviously there are many, many contributing factors and so I think there is enormous debate because of that - I am not fully sure what caused this". Given those tight margins, I asked, could fake news have affected some people's vote - and maybe enough people's vote to affect the outcome.

BBC

I'm still not fully sure what I'm supposed to do as someone who could potentially find themselves as a target for hate.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"They weren't fully sure what was going on".

The Guardian

Yet, 46percentt admit they aren't fully sure what those future skills will be.

Forbes

That number itself is an estimate, one that is used internally, because even Twitter isn't fully sure.

TechCrunch

Mr Cameron said voters had been "very worried" about the state of the economy and some "weren't fully sure we had all the ideas and plans".

BBC

Everyone, no matter how old, would be overjoyed to give us directions, even when they weren't fully sure of them.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing uncertainty, use "not fully sure" to convey a balanced perspective, acknowledging both partial knowledge and remaining doubts.

Common error

Avoid using "not fully sure" when you have significant evidence or strong beliefs. Choose a more decisive expression if your uncertainty is minimal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not fully sure" functions as a qualifier expressing uncertainty or a lack of complete confidence. It is used to soften statements and indicate that the speaker's knowledge is incomplete. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not fully sure" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a degree of uncertainty. As stated by Ludwig, it's a correct and usable phrase. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears across varied contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. When using "not fully sure", consider the degree of uncertainty you intend to convey and whether a more decisive statement is appropriate. Alternatives such as ""somewhat uncertain"" or ""not entirely certain"" may offer more specific nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not entirely certain

Very similar in meaning, but uses "entirely" instead of "fully".

unsure to some degree

Similar to "not fully sure" but emphasizes the degree of uncertainty.

not quite positive

Indicates a lack of complete confidence or affirmation.

somewhat uncertain

Indicates a level of uncertainty, but slightly less direct than "not fully sure".

not completely clear

Focuses on lack of understanding or transparency.

partially convinced

Suggests some level of agreement, but not complete conviction.

unclear to some extent

Focuses on the lack of clarity rather than personal uncertainty.

a bit doubtful

Emphasizes a feeling of doubt, rather than a lack of knowledge.

hesitant to affirm

Highlights reluctance or unwillingness to confirm something.

questionable to a degree

Suggests that something is open to doubt or challenge.

FAQs

How can I use "not fully sure" in a sentence?

You can use "not fully sure" to express uncertainty about a fact, plan, or opinion. For example, "I am "not fully sure" about the details of the project yet".

What are some alternatives to "not fully sure"?

Alternatives include "somewhat uncertain", "not entirely certain", or "a bit doubtful", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "not fully sure" or "unsure"?

Both are correct, but "not fully sure" can sometimes sound more nuanced, implying partial knowledge or consideration, while "unsure" is a more general term for lacking certainty.

What does it mean to be "not fully sure"?

To be "not fully sure" means that you have some knowledge or understanding of something, but you still have doubts or unanswered questions.