reasonably certain of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reasonably certain of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a level of confidence or assurance about a particular fact or situation. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, I am reasonably certain of the outcome of the investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But lawyers accept these cases only when they are reasonably certain of victory.

The Guardian

It contains language about foods not being let on the market until after they have been found to be reasonably certain of causing no harm, one member said.

The New York Times

This isn't my first live wrestling event, so I'm reasonably certain of what to expect, yet I'm blown away once I make it inside the Barclays Center.

Independent

It read as follows: "This much I'm reasonably certain of, that there are much worse emotions to have to live with than sadness, however vast and deep that sadness might be.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

NASA's Dr. James Hansen, perhaps the most outstanding climate researcher in the world today, has pointed out that, at least initially, we must get down to a maximum of 350 ppm to feel reasonably certain of avoiding major disasters for the planet and for our civilization.

Huffington Post

You see, despite the recent fiasco over Brexit, it's a commonly held and observed maxim here at the heart of the EU that most politicians call elections when they are reasonably certain of winning, and furthermore that you never ask the electorate a question unless you already know the answer.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

But it defeated a second proposal that would have let lawyers break confidentiality to prevent their clients from committing fraud reasonably certain to substantially injure the financial interests of another.

The New York Times

One thing of which we can be reasonably certain, regardless of which of the two ascends the Throne, is that our beloved War Machine will trundle, myopically and belligerently, forward.

Huffington Post

One reason for this is that reasonably certain diagnosis of secondary headache requires extensive clinical and medical investigations, and often follow-up, which is not feasible in most population-based epidemiologic studies.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

If a reasonably certain determination of harm about an EDC could somehow be made, how would one regulate that chemical?

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

In the case of "Countdown," Beyonce and Petty could be reasonably certain that 99.99 percent of their audience would have no knowledge of the de Keersmaeker source material to which they are making reference.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reasonably certain of" when you want to express a moderate degree of confidence without claiming absolute certainty. This is particularly useful in contexts where evidence is strong but not conclusive.

Common error

Avoid using "reasonably certain of" when the situation warrants a stronger expression of certainty (e.g., "absolutely certain") or when there is significant doubt. Choose wording that accurately reflects the level of evidence and your degree of confidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reasonably certain of" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a subject, expressing a moderate degree of confidence or assurance regarding a particular fact, event, or outcome. Ludwig shows various examples in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reasonably certain of" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for conveying a moderate degree of confidence. Ludwig's examples highlight its prevalence in news, media, and scientific contexts, indicating its suitability for conveying informed opinions or expectations without claiming absolute certainty. The analysis suggests that the phrase is appropriate for neutral to professional registers, providing a balanced way to express confidence grounded in evidence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly sure about

Replaces "certain" with "sure", indicating a similar level of confidence.

reasonably confident in

Substitutes 'certain' with 'confident', highlighting a belief in the reliability of something.

quite sure of

Emphasizes a strong feeling of sureness, nearly absolute but still acknowledging a small chance of error.

fairly convinced of

Uses 'convinced' which indicates a belief based on evidence or argument.

pretty confident regarding

Uses "confident" instead of "certain", suggesting assurance based on evidence.

relatively assured of

Employs "assured", emphasizing a sense of guaranteed outcome or understanding.

largely certain about

The modifier 'largely' suggests that the certainty is substantial but not necessarily complete.

relatively sure concerning

Using 'relatively' adjusts the strength of the certainty, making it less absolute and more comparative.

somewhat convinced about

Indicates a partial persuasion or belief in something.

moderately positive that

Uses "positive" to reflect a good degree of confidence, without complete certainty.

FAQs

How can I use "reasonably certain of" in a sentence?

You can use "reasonably certain of" to express a moderate level of confidence about something. For example, "After reviewing the data, we are reasonably certain of the results."

What can I say instead of "reasonably certain of"?

You can use alternatives like "fairly sure about", "pretty confident regarding", or "relatively assured of" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "reasonably certain of" or "absolutely certain of"?

The choice depends on the strength of the evidence and your level of confidence. "Absolutely certain of" indicates complete assurance, while "reasonably certain of" suggests a moderate level of confidence without complete proof. If you are looking for stronger alternatives, there's also "positive that".

What's the difference between "reasonably certain of" and "somewhat certain of"?

"Reasonably certain of" implies a higher degree of confidence than "somewhat certain of". "Somewhat certain of" suggests a slight inclination towards belief, while "reasonably certain of" indicates a stronger conviction based on available evidence.