predict it to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "predict it to" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a prediction about something, but the structure is awkward and unclear. Example: "I predict it to rain tomorrow" would be better phrased as "I predict that it will rain tomorrow."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

This went on and on – I could almost predict it to the day.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Using published spectral data we predict it to be about 0.025 K−1 for the temperature interval from below room temperature to above 500 K for Er-doped silica.

Infrared Physics & Technology

"The 6 mg per kg lines up perfectly where you would predict it to be," says Jeff Sevigny, a senior medical director at Biogen.

Forbes

The arguments against crowdfunding in 2013 will evolve into best practices and common leadership – this will accelerate the crowdfunding phenomena towards the $1 trillion market we predict it to be by 2020.

Forbes

I call the style of music I play "Chillrave" and I predict it to be the most relevant new genre of 2k11.

Huffington Post

The Falcons have begun their path of trying to repeat as CIF Southern Section Division II champions, and the standout senior doesn't predict it to be easy.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Initially, forecasters predicted it to slowly re-intensify; instead it weakened as its convection degraded in organization and intensity.

Wikipedia

Based on its age and brightness, current theoretical models would have predicted it to be shrimpier and a brown dwarf.

Science Magazine

Most owners tend to pay for past stats; you can acquire value by accurately predicting it to get future production at a discount.

The New York Times - Sports

Flu season has hit the United States hard, with experts predicting it to be the worst in a decade.

Huffington Post

Michelle (8 44:53 PM): And I think everyone was predicting it to go to Daily Show Rachel (8 45 07 PM): I was secretly predicting Colbert.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When making a prediction, ensure your sentence includes a proper conjunction like "that" to connect the prediction to its outcome. For example, use "predict that it will" instead of "predict it to".

Common error

Avoid directly following "predict" with "it to". This construction often omits the necessary conjunction "that", leading to grammatically incorrect sentences. Always include "that" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "predict it to" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing a future expectation. However, it's grammatically flawed, as Ludwig AI highlights, because it lacks the necessary conjunction 'that'. The structure aims to forecast or anticipate an event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "predict it to" is used with relative frequency, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The proper construction requires the inclusion of "that", such as "predict that it will". Though found in various contexts including science and news media, its incorrect grammar reduces its suitability for formal or professional communication. When aiming to express a prediction, opt for grammatically sound alternatives like "anticipate it will" or "expect it to" to ensure clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

predict that it will

Adds the conjunction "that" and auxiliary verb "will" for grammatical correctness and clearer expression of future tense.

anticipate it will

Replaces "predict" with "anticipate", maintaining a similar meaning but with a slightly different nuance of expectation.

forecast it to be

Uses "forecast" instead of "predict", implying a more formal or data-driven prediction.

expect it to

Employs "expect" as a more common and straightforward synonym for "predict".

project it will

Replaces "predict" with "project", suggesting a prediction based on current trends or data.

foresee it happening

Changes the structure to emphasize the action of something happening, using "foresee".

envisage it to be

Replaces "predict" with "envisage", giving a sense of imagining or visualizing a future outcome.

believe it will

Uses "believe" to convey a personal conviction about a future event.

estimate it to be

Employs "estimate" to suggest a prediction based on available information, possibly with some uncertainty.

foretell its occurrence

Replaces "predict" with "foretell", giving a more formal and somewhat archaic tone to the prediction.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "predict" in a sentence?

To use "predict" correctly, ensure you include the conjunction "that" to connect the prediction to its outcome. For example, instead of saying "I predict it to rain", say "I predict that it will rain".

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "predict it to"?

Alternatives include using phrases like "anticipate it will", "expect it to", or "forecast it to be". These options provide clearer and more grammatically correct ways to express prediction.

Is "predict it to" considered grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "predict it to" is not considered grammatically correct. It's best to use alternatives like "predict that it will" or other similar constructions in formal writing.

What is the difference between "predict it to" and "predict that it will"?

"Predict that it will" is grammatically correct and includes the necessary conjunction "that" for clarity. In contrast, "predict it to" omits "that" and is considered grammatically incorrect. Using "predict that it will" ensures proper sentence structure and avoids ambiguity.