pretty sure about

USAGE SUMMARY

"pretty sure about" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when expressing a moderate level of certainty regarding something. Example: "I'm pretty sure about the meeting time." Alternative expressions include "fairly certain of" and "quite confident in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

"That's the one guy that I think that we are pretty sure about," Manager Don Mattingly said.

Los Angeles Times

"I'm pretty sure about that".

The New York Times - Science

I was pretty sure about that rule.

The New York Times

"I question them if I'm pretty sure about it," Hingis said.

The New York Times - Sports

This is going to feel better and better as the week moves on, I am pretty sure about that".

Independent

But having seen previous productions of the play, she said, "I feel pretty sure about an audience response".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

"The fans are, I'm pretty sure, excited about what's happening on the court.

The New York Times - Sports

Pretty sure that would be about as cute as a unibrow! 3 Connect the Dots.

Huffington Post

[* "Mysterious" in the sense that Google told us to meet them at their Mountain View campus, then quickly shuffled us onto a bus and got on the freeway without telling us much about where we were headed. I was pretty sure I was about to be assimilated into the Android army.

TechCrunch

"Actually," Kirsten said, "I looked it up, and I'm pretty sure Lucy lives about forty-five minutes west of St . Louis

The New Yorker

I'm pretty sure it's about a lot more than a couple of text messages though.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To convey a higher degree of confidence, consider stronger alternatives such as "very confident" or "absolutely certain".

Common error

While "pretty sure about" is acceptable in many situations, avoid overusing it in formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated and precise language to convey your level of certainty such as "highly confident".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty sure about" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a subject by expressing a state of moderate confidence or certainty. Ludwig examples show its use in conveying a belief or assumption without absolute proof.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pretty sure about" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a moderate level of confidence. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it's generally acceptable, remember to consider the formality of your writing; more formal contexts may benefit from stronger or more precise language. Alternative phrases like "fairly certain about" or "quite confident about" can offer similar meanings with subtle differences in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly certain about

Replaces "pretty" with "fairly", indicating a similar degree of certainty.

quite confident about

Substitutes "sure" with "confident", suggesting a slightly stronger feeling of assurance.

reasonably sure of

Uses "reasonably" instead of "pretty", conveying a similar level of confidence with a slight variation in tone.

mostly certain about

Emphasizes the extent of certainty, indicating that the speaker is certain about most aspects.

pretty confident of

Swaps "sure" for "confident" and uses the preposition "of" instead of "about", creating a minor grammatical difference.

almost certain about

Suggests a high degree of certainty, bordering on complete assurance.

largely sure about

Similar to 'mostly certain,' indicates certainty about the majority of something.

generally confident about

Highlights confidence based on a general understanding or impression.

virtually certain about

Indicates a very high level of certainty, close to absolute.

relatively sure about

Emphasizes that the certainty is in relation to something else, suggesting a comparison.

FAQs

How can I use "pretty sure about" in a sentence?

You can use "pretty sure about" to express a moderate level of confidence. For example, "I'm pretty sure about the meeting time" or "She's pretty sure about her answer".

What can I say instead of "pretty sure about"?

You can use alternatives like "fairly certain about", "quite confident about", or "reasonably sure of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "pretty sure about" or "pretty sure of"?

"Pretty sure about" is more common, but "pretty sure of" is also grammatically correct. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific context.

How can I emphasize that I am very certain instead of "pretty sure about"?

To show a higher level of certainty, consider phrases like "almost certain about", "absolutely sure about", or "completely certain about".