probably will

USAGE SUMMARY

"probably will" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when expressing a likelihood of something happening in the future. For example, "I probably will go to the beach tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It probably will.

Forbes

But Hannah probably will.

The New York Times - Sports

"He probably will".

The New York Times

But he probably will.

The New York Times

And probably will be.

The Economist

There probably will.

The Economist

As, most probably, will Twitter.

Independent

But Fowler probably will not.

The New York Times

But it probably will not.

The New York Times

MR. BAUCUS: We probably will.

The New York Times

Mr. Gutierrez probably will like.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "probably will" when you want to indicate a reasonable expectation without absolute certainty. For instance, "Given the weather forecast, it "probably will" rain tomorrow."

Common error

Avoid using "probably will" when the outcome is virtually guaranteed. Instead of saying "Given the extensive damage, the car probably will be totaled", consider "The car will almost certainly be totaled" to more accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "probably will" functions as a modal construction to express a degree of likelihood or expectation regarding a future event. It combines the adverb "probably", which indicates probability, with the auxiliary verb "will", which denotes future tense. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "probably will" is a very common and grammatically correct modal verb phrase used to express a likely future event. As Ludwig AI validates, it functions to convey a prediction without absolute certainty. While appropriate across a range of communication scenarios, it's crucial to avoid redundancy and to consider the degree of certainty you wish to express, opting for stronger or weaker alternatives as needed. It is most often found in news and media contexts, suggesting its utility in reporting and analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost certainly will

Intensifies the likelihood with "almost certainly", suggesting a very high probability.

likely to happen

Replaces the modal verb with an adjective phrase indicating a strong possibility.

in all likelihood

Presents a future outcome as the most reasonable or expected scenario.

chances are it will

Introduces a probabilistic element, framing the outcome as a matter of chance.

it could very well

Suggests a strong possibility, though not a certainty, of an event occurring.

expected to occur

Uses a more formal tone, suggesting an anticipated event based on current conditions.

it is to be expected

Highlights that an event is not surprising and aligns with existing patterns.

anticipated to be

Focuses on an expected state or condition rather than an action.

one can anticipate

Frames the expectation as a reasonable prediction based on available information.

it is plausible that

Emphasizes the believability or reasonableness of a future event.

FAQs

How can I use "probably will" in a sentence?

Use "probably will" to indicate a likely future event. For example, "She "probably will" accept the job offer" suggests she is likely to accept, but it is not a certainty.

What are some alternatives to saying "probably will"?

You can use alternatives like "likely to happen", "almost certainly will", or "expected to occur" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "probably will likely"?

Yes, using both "probably" and "likely" together is redundant because they have similar meanings. Stick to either "probably will" or "will likely" for clarity.

How does the usage of "probably will" compare to "might" or "may"?

"Probably will" suggests a higher degree of certainty than "might" or "may". If something is "probably will" happen, it's more likely than if it "might" or "may" happen.