probably won't

USAGE SUMMARY

'probably won't' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing an uncertainty about something or predicting the future. Example: I probably won't have time to finish this project by tomorrow.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Probably won't be.

The New York Times

But he probably won't.

The Economist

(And probably won't).

The New York Times

You probably won't succeed.

The New York Times - Arts

But they probably won't.

The Economist

He probably won't, however.

The Guardian - Sport

They probably won't, though.

The New Yorker

"But we probably won't".

The New York Times - Sports

It probably won't.

Forbes

Bottom probably won't.

Independent

He probably won't.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "probably won't" to express a moderate degree of certainty about a negative outcome. It's stronger than "might not" but weaker than "definitely won't."

Common error

Avoid using "probably won't" when you have concrete evidence of an event not occurring. In such cases, "definitely won't" or "will not" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "probably won't" serves as a modal construction expressing a prediction with a degree of uncertainty. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts to indicate that something is not expected to occur.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "probably won't" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express that something is unlikely to happen. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts but may be replaced with more formal alternatives like "it is unlikely that" in professional settings. The phrase sees frequent usage in "News & Media", "Science", and "Wiki" sources, indicating its broad applicability. When using "probably won't", be mindful of the level of certainty you wish to convey, as it sits between "might not" and "definitely won't" on the scale of likelihood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unlikely to happen

Emphasizes the low probability of an event occurring.

most likely not

Directly states the greater likelihood of a negative outcome.

not expected to

Highlights the absence of anticipation for a particular event.

it's doubtful that

Introduces a sense of skepticism about a future possibility.

chances are slim

Indicates a very low probability of something happening.

it's improbable that

Suggests a rare or unlikely occurrence.

not anticipated to

Similar to "not expected to", but can imply a more formal context.

it is questionable whether

Poses a direct question about the likelihood of an event, implying doubt.

not in the cards

An idiomatic expression indicating that something is not destined or likely to occur.

don't hold your breath

An idiomatic expression advising against expecting something to happen.

FAQs

How can I use "probably won't" in a sentence?

"Probably won't" is used to express that something is unlikely to happen. For example: "I "probably won't have time" to finish that today."

What's a more formal alternative to "probably won't"?

For a more formal tone, consider "it is unlikely that" or "it is not expected that". These alternatives maintain a professional tone while expressing similar uncertainty.

What's the difference between "probably won't" and "definitely won't"?

"Probably won't" indicates a strong likelihood of something not happening, while "definitely won't" expresses absolute certainty. The choice depends on the level of confidence you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "most likely won't" instead of "probably won't"?

While "most likely won't" is understandable, "probably won't" is more grammatically standard and widely accepted. "Most likely not" is also a viable alternative, but slightly changes the emphasis.