remain to be

USAGE SUMMARY

"remain to be" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that something has yet to occur, or is yet to be determined. For example, "The effects of the new policy remain to be seen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Others remain to be discovered.

The New York Times - Arts

But real changes remain to be seen.

The New York Times

Crucial details remain to be settled.

The New York Times

Deal terms remain to be settled.

The New York Times

The unintended consequences remain to be seen.

The New York Times

But some questions remain to be answered.

The Economist

Many issues remain to be resolved.

The Economist

Such things will remain to be seen.

The New York Times - Sports

Some specifics remain to be negotiated.

The New York Times

But many obstacles remain to be overcome.

The New York Times

Such questions remain to be answered.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "remain to be" when you want to indicate that something is in a state of anticipation or uncertainty, awaiting future action or revelation. For example, "The long-term consequences of this decision remain to be seen."

Common error

Avoid using "remain to be" when referring to actions that have already been completed. Instead of saying "The problem remains to be solved after the intervention", it should be "The problem remains unsolved after the intervention."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remain to be" functions as a modal verb phrase, indicating a state of something yet to occur or be determined. Ludwig's examples highlight its use in various contexts, such as unresolved issues or future outcomes. It often connects a subject with a future action or state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "remain to be" is a versatile expression used to indicate that something is yet to happen or be determined. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide acceptance across various contexts. With a neutral register, it fits seamlessly into news, scientific, and academic writing, emphasizing anticipation, uncertainty, or unresolved issues. While highly versatile, it's essential to avoid misusing it for actions already completed. Replace it with alternatives such as "yet to be" or ""to be determined"" depending on the specific nuance you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet to be

Emphasizes the anticipation of something happening in the future; focuses on the aspect of time.

still to be

Highlights the continuation of a situation until something occurs; implies a process is ongoing.

to be determined

Focuses on the uncertainty and need for a decision or discovery in the future.

to be seen

Emphasizes the aspect of observation and future revelation of something.

to be resolved

Specifically indicates that there are outstanding issues needing a solution.

to be addressed

Highlights that certain issues require attention and action.

to be clarified

Emphasizes the need for making something clearer or more understandable.

to be explored

Focuses on the need for further investigation or examination.

awaits

A concise way to express something is waiting to happen or be revealed.

outstanding

Highlights that something is not yet completed or resolved.

FAQs

How do I use "remain to be" in a sentence?

Use "remain to be" to indicate that something is yet to happen or be determined. For instance, "The details of the agreement "remain to be negotiated"."

What's a formal alternative to "remain to be"?

In formal writing, you can replace "remain to be" with phrases like "yet to be" or "still to be" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "remains to be seen" or "remain to be seen"?

"Remains to be seen" is used when referring to a singular subject, while "remain to be seen" is used for plural subjects. Example: "The impact of the policy remains to be seen", vs. "The effects of the changes "remain to be seen"".

What's the difference between "to be determined" and "remain to be seen"?

"To be determined" indicates that something is not yet decided or known and requires a specific action to find out. "Remain to be seen" implies that the outcome is uncertain and will become clear over time without necessarily requiring active investigation. For example: "The project timeline is "to be determined"", vs. "The success of the venture "remains to be seen"".