not very confident

USAGE SUMMARY

"not very confident" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it to describe someone's attitude or demeanor, for example: "The job applicant appeared to be not very confident during the interview."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

GPs were also asked to rate their confidence (very confident, not very confident, not confident at all) in managing a mild, moderate, or severe/critical asthma exacerbation in children, and their confidence in managing infrequent episodic, frequent episodic, and persistent asthma.

BMC Family Practice

The psychosocial influence of peers' smoking behaviours was implied as a reason for low confidence in one participant's account: 'I am not very confident [that I can quit], because I'm always around people that are smoking' (10; female, 36) Generally, the influence of homeless peers on smoking behaviour appeared evident, with exceptionally high levels of smoking acknowledged by all participants.

BMC Public Health

Gallup had their Economic Confidence Poll this morning and that's at -14 (not very confident) and down from -7 last May and way down from +3 in January.

Huffington Post

"I'm not very confident in it".

The New Yorker

"I'm not very confident the next guy will be able to immediately turn the ship around".

The New York Times - Tech

"I think people vote with their pocketbooks, and they are not very confident right now".

The New York Times

"Not very confident, but steady in terms of doing what she was supposed to".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

"I wasn't very confident; I was cripplingly shy.

The Guardian - Film

I wasn't very confident as I came into the straight as I could feel something was not like usual.

The Guardian - Sport

"I wasn't very confident about clothes, I was always hunting through racks, never sure what looked right.

The Guardian - Music

I wasn't very confident and I was always trying to show people how good I was, which isn't a good motivation for doing anything.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's feelings, combine "not very confident" with specific details about their behavior or situation to provide a clearer picture.

Common error

In highly formal writing, consider stronger or more nuanced alternatives like "lacking self-assurance" or "somewhat unassured" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very confident" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of lacking strong assurance. Ludwig AI confirms this is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not very confident" is a grammatically correct and very common adjective phrase used to express a mild lack of assurance. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, although more formal settings might benefit from synonyms like "lacking self-assurance". When using this phrase, consider the specific context and audience to ensure the tone aligns with your intended message. The phrase appears frequently in News & Media, Science, and Wiki, suggesting broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat unassured

Expresses a slightly more formal tone and emphasizes a lack of assurance.

lacking self-assurance

More formal and emphasizes the absence of self-assurance.

a bit insecure

Highlights the emotional aspect of lacking confidence, focusing on feelings of insecurity.

not entirely certain

Focuses on a lack of certainty rather than confidence, suitable when the context involves doubt.

relatively diffident

A more formal and nuanced way to express a lack of confidence, suggesting shyness and reserve.

a little doubtful

Emphasizes a sense of doubt, which can stem from a lack of confidence.

slightly apprehensive

Highlights feelings of anxiety.

exhibiting some hesitation

Focuses on the outward display of uncertainty through hesitation.

not particularly optimistic

Shifts the focus to a lack of optimism, implying doubt about a positive outcome.

not too optimistic

Expresses reduced level of positiveness.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "not very confident"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat unassured", "a bit insecure", or "not entirely certain" depending on the context.

How can I use "not very confident" in a sentence?

You can use "not very confident" to describe someone's state of mind. For example: "The student felt not very confident about the upcoming exam."

Is it grammatically correct to say "not very confident"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "not very confident" is a common and acceptable way to express a lack of strong confidence.

What's the difference between "not very confident" and "not at all confident"?

"Not very confident" implies a mild lack of confidence, while "not at all confident" suggests a complete absence of confidence. The latter is a stronger statement.