pretty much guaranteed

USAGE SUMMARY

"pretty much guarantee" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that something is almost certainly going to happen or be true. For example: "His hard work and dedication pretty much guarantee his success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Safe package deliveries pretty much guaranteed without much inconvenience.

Stanford University

Demand for the drugs that do make it is pretty much guaranteed.

The Economist

If you're raising and killing 10 billion animals every year, some abuse is pretty much guaranteed.

The New York Times

That was pretty much guaranteed to drive gas prices up sharply.

The New Yorker

Spectacular failure in Iran pretty much guaranteed President Carter's defeat in his campaign for reëlection.

The New Yorker

"We're pretty much guaranteed a world record in the 100 metres," he adds.

The Guardian - Sport

Condo owners are pretty much guaranteed to get a spa appointment.

The New York Times

Excitement is pretty much guaranteed as Valery Gergiev gives his first concert with the orchestra.

The New York Times

Having reached a high temperature, the compost is pretty much guaranteed to be free of pathogens.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

I can pretty much guarantee it".

The New York Times - Sports

"You're pretty much guaranteeing you'll lose five or six kids per class," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty much guaranteed" to convey a high degree of confidence about an outcome, but acknowledge a slight possibility of uncertainty. For instance, "With these precautions, a successful outcome is "pretty much guaranteed".

Common error

Avoid using "pretty much guaranteed" when the outcome is truly uncertain. Ensure there's a solid basis for your confidence, as overuse can erode credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty much guaranteed" functions as an adverbial modifier strengthening the adjective "guaranteed". It indicates a high degree of certainty, but it stops short of an absolute guarantee. The examples in Ludwig show its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretty much guaranteed" is a common and correct English phrase used to express a high degree of certainty without claiming absolute assurance. Analysis by Ludwig indicates that it functions as an adverbial modifier, typically found in news, academic, and wiki contexts. While grammatically sound, overusing it may weaken your message. Ludwig AI confirms its accurate usage across various contexts, making it a reliable choice for expressing strong likelihood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually certain

Emphasizes the near certainty of an event or outcome.

almost assured

Indicates a very high degree of confidence in a particular result.

highly likely

Suggests a strong probability, though not absolute certainty.

near certain

Similar to "virtually certain", highlighting the minimal chance of failure.

effectively guaranteed

Implies a guarantee that is practically in place, though not explicitly stated.

practically certain

Indicates an outcome that is almost impossible to avoid.

as good as certain

Expresses a very strong belief that something will occur.

certain for the most part

Acknowledges a theoretical possibility of failure, but dismisses it.

in all likelihood

Suggests that the available evidence strongly supports a specific outcome.

one can safely assume

Implies that the conclusion is a reliable assumption based on current state.

FAQs

How can I use "pretty much guaranteed" in a sentence?

You can use "pretty much guaranteed" to express a high degree of confidence in an outcome, for example, "If you follow these steps, success is "pretty much guaranteed".

What are some alternatives to "pretty much guaranteed"?

Alternatives include "virtually certain", "almost assured", or "highly likely", depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "pretty much guaranteed" in formal writing?

While acceptable, in very formal writing, consider using alternatives like "virtually certain" or "almost assured" for a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "pretty much guaranteed" and "guaranteed"?

"Pretty much guaranteed" implies a very high probability, while "guaranteed" suggests absolute certainty. The former acknowledges a slight, though unlikely, chance of failure. Ludwig AI confirms this.