quite uncertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite uncertain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a significant level of doubt or lack of clarity about a situation or outcome. Example: "The results of the experiment were quite uncertain, leading the researchers to conduct further tests."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But this estimate is quite uncertain.

The Guardian

"Obviously there are some areas of international law that can be quite uncertain.

The Guardian

Breton may still have more speakers than Welsh, but this is quite uncertain because no language statistics exist for France.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Moreover, with the economic backdrop still quite uncertain, unemployment set to continue increasing sharply and finance for first-time buyers still in short supply, there are a number of significant obstacles for the market to overcome over the coming months".

The Guardian - Money

In most cases, the greater risk to those nearby would be from the conventional explosives used rather than the radioactive materials dispersed.Even the long-term health effects of heightened radiation exposure after such a device exploded are quite uncertain, according to Abel Gonzalez, the director of radiation and waste safety at the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency IAEAA). Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA

The Economist

I'm particularly interested in the role of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to past changes in natural (volcanic+solar) radiative effects, and how this can potentially inform the still quite uncertain issue of how ENSO will be impacted by human greenhouse gas increases.

The Guardian

"While the members could see an increased risk of a marked slowing of growth relative to the rapid rate of expansion of the economy's potential, the degree to which growth in demand might remain sufficiently damped to contain and offset those inflation pressures was quite uncertain," the minutes said.

The New York Times

However, it is quite uncertain.

Earth, Planets and Space

Firstly, the resource potential was quite uncertain.

Geoscience Letters

The distribution of the intrusion's energy is quite uncertain.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

We find that experts still feel quite uncertain since numerous probability values of approximately 50%% emerged.

European Journal of Futures Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite uncertain" when you want to express a noticeable degree of doubt or lack of clarity, but without suggesting complete ignorance or randomness. It implies a degree of estimation, but one that may be unreliable.

Common error

Avoid using "quite uncertain" when you actually mean completely unknown. "Quite uncertain" suggests there's some information, but it's unreliable, while "completely unknown" indicates a total absence of data.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite uncertain" functions as an adverbial modifier of the adjective "uncertain". It intensifies the uncertainty, indicating a noticeable but not necessarily total lack of confidence or clarity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "quite uncertain" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a significant degree of doubt or lack of clarity. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is appropriate in many contexts and its meaning is to indicate the potential unreliability of available information. Analysis of its usage patterns shows that it's most common in scientific and news reporting, with a neutral tone. To avoid overstating, it's important to remember that "quite uncertain" suggests some existing information, while "completely unknown" implies a total absence of data. Closely related alternatives are "fairly uncertain" and "rather uncertain". This analysis provides a solid foundation for understanding and using this common phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly uncertain

Replaces "quite" with "fairly", indicating a slightly lesser degree of uncertainty.

pretty uncertain

Replaces "quite" with "pretty", maintaining a similar level of uncertainty in a more informal tone.

very uncertain

Replaces "quite" with "very", indicating a slightly stronger degree of uncertainty.

rather uncertain

Similar to "fairly uncertain", indicating a moderate level of uncertainty.

totally uncertain

Replaces "quite" with "totally", indicating a higher degree of uncertainty.

completely uncertain

Replaces "quite" with "completely", suggesting a total lack of certainty.

relatively uncertain

Emphasizes uncertainty in comparison to other factors or possibilities.

distinctly uncertain

Emphasizes the clear and noticeable nature of the uncertainty.

highly doubtful

Shifts the focus to doubt rather than uncertainty, implying a strong disbelief.

somewhat unclear

Shifts the focus to a lack of clarity rather than direct uncertainty.

FAQs

How can I use "quite uncertain" in a sentence?

You can use "quite uncertain" to express doubt about a future outcome or the reliability of information. For example, "The long-term effects of the new policy are "quite uncertain"."

What phrases are similar to "quite uncertain"?

Alternatives include "fairly uncertain", "rather uncertain", or "somewhat unclear depending on the specific context."

Is it better to say "quite uncertain" or "very uncertain"?

Both "quite uncertain" and "very uncertain" are grammatically correct and express a high degree of uncertainty. The choice between them often depends on personal preference or the specific nuance you wish to convey. "Very uncertain" might suggest a slightly higher degree of uncertainty.

What's the difference between "quite uncertain" and "completely unknown"?

"Quite uncertain" implies that there is some information available, but its accuracy or reliability is questionable. "Completely unknown", on the other hand, indicates a total lack of information or knowledge about something.