optimistic of winning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "optimistic of winning" is not correct in standard English.
The correct expression would be "optimistic about winning." Example: "She is optimistic about winning the championship this year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The Prime Minister insisted he was optimistic of winning a "new settlement" for Britain in Europe, saying he wanted to recommend staying in a reformed EU.

Independent

Labour sources said on Thursday night they were "cautiously optimistic" of winning the seat, with the local turnout estimated at more than 40%.

The Guardian

As Infantino, the Uefa general secretary, insisted he was optimistic of winning what is expected to be a close race that will go beyond the first round of voting, the favourite, Sheikh Salman, said Fifa's 209 members should trust him.

The Guardian - Sport

Campaign aides claimed they were optimistic of winning November's general election despite a paucity of big-name politicians, or the A-list celebrities that Trump once promised would flock to his coronation.

The Guardian

Frank Schubert, who ran the California campaign and who is managing all four this year, says he is "cautiously optimistic" of winning them all, though he adds that with four simultaneous campaigns, the amount of national money that can be tapped for each is limited.

The Economist

Last month, the BOA had expressed itself to be "cautiously optimistic" of winning the case.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"So I'm a little bit less optimistic in terms of winning the race or podium finish.

BBC

Administration officials were optimistic about their chances of winning Security Council approval for the resolution, perhaps unanimously.

The New York Times

But they have been buoyantly, insistently optimistic about the chance of winning a majority of the Supreme Court.

The New York Times

It comes at a time when Republicans are optimistic about their chances of winning control of the House and eager to present themselves to voters as prepared to govern.

The New York Times

Some seemed optimistic about their chances of winning, while others were a little less confident.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing confidence in a future victory, prefer the phrase "optimistic about winning". This phrasing adheres to standard English grammar and is widely accepted.

Common error

Avoid using the preposition "of" after "optimistic" when referring to a future event. "Optimistic of" is generally considered incorrect; instead, use "optimistic about".

Linguistic Context

The phrase is used as an adjective to describe someone's state of mind. Specifically, it indicates that someone has a positive expectation or belief about achieving a victory. Although Ludwig AI flags it as non-standard English, its usage suggests an attempt to convey confidence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "optimistic of winning" is used to express a positive expectation or belief in achieving a victory. However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrasing is not considered standard English. The grammatically correct and widely accepted alternative is "optimistic about winning". While the phrase appears in news articles, indicating a neutral register, it's essential to use the correct preposition to maintain grammatical accuracy. Remember to use "optimistic about winning" to clearly and correctly convey your confidence in a future victory.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

optimistic about winning

Corrects the preposition used after "optimistic" for standard English grammar.

hopeful of winning

Replaces "optimistic" with "hopeful", maintaining a similar level of expectation.

confident of winning

Substitutes "optimistic" with "confident", indicating a stronger belief in success.

expecting to win

Uses a verb phrase to express the anticipated outcome.

anticipating a win

Shifts the focus to the win itself, implying a sense of anticipation.

foreseeing victory

Employs a more formal and literary term for predicting success.

assured of success

Expresses a strong conviction in achieving a positive result.

believing in a win

Highlights the conviction that victory is attainable.

with expectations of winning

Uses a more verbose construction to convey the idea of anticipating success.

convinced of winning

Indicates a firm belief that winning is certain.

FAQs

What's the correct preposition to use with "optimistic" when talking about winning?

The correct preposition is "about". Therefore, use "optimistic about winning" instead of "optimistic of winning".

Is it wrong to say "optimistic of winning"?

While you might encounter the phrase "optimistic of winning", it's not considered standard English. "Optimistic about winning" is the preferred and grammatically correct choice.

What can I say instead of "optimistic of winning"?

You can use phrases like "optimistic about winning", "hopeful of winning", or "confident of winning" depending on the context.

Which is more common, "optimistic of winning" or "optimistic about winning"?

"Optimistic about winning" is far more common and grammatically accepted than "optimistic of winning".