still to be seen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "still to be seen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has not yet been observed or determined, often referring to future events or outcomes. Example: "The final results of the experiment are still to be seen, as we need to analyze the data thoroughly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Still to be seen.

The Guardian - Music

But it's still to be seen.

The New York Times

He did, and in family legend they were still to be seen years later.

The Guardian

Bilic was therefore keen to emphasise the quality of his principal talents still to be seen.

The Guardian - Sport

But whether the evangelicals will be decisive is still to be seen.

The Guardian

Whether the church dictums will influence Tuesday's vote is still to be seen.

The New York Times

Whether this is what he delivered is still to be seen.

The Guardian - Business

His tomb and a monument to his memory were still to be seen in Athens in the 2nd century ad.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is still to be seen if its approach will work with much larger numbers of families.

The New York Times

Russian troops, meanwhile, were still to be seen in the town (they did not finally leave the East until 1994).

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's still yet to be seen if Boutiques.com can be a thriving success.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "still to be seen" to express genuine uncertainty about future outcomes, avoiding its use when the outcome is already reasonably predictable.

Common error

Ensure that the surrounding sentence structure aligns with the future implication of "still to be seen". Avoid using past tense verbs in conjunction with the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "still to be seen" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying an implied subject. It indicates that something is not yet known or visible, and its outcome or existence is pending. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "still to be seen" serves as a versatile tool for expressing uncertainty and anticipation across various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically sound and widely accepted. Its neutral register and frequent use in news, academic, and encyclopedic sources, indicate its reliability and broad applicability. When writing, use "still to be seen" to accurately reflect the unknown aspects of future outcomes and ensure that the surrounding tense aligns with its forward-looking implication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet to be determined

Emphasizes that a decision or outcome has not been established.

remains to be seen

Highlights the aspect of time and the unfolding of events.

time will tell

A more idiomatic way of expressing that the future will reveal the answer.

the future will show

Directly points to the future as the source of revelation.

not yet known

Focuses on the current lack of knowledge about something.

uncertain at this point

Indicates that the outcome is not clear given the current information.

to be revealed in due course

Suggests that information will be disclosed at the appropriate time.

contingent on future events

Highlights that the outcome depends on what happens next.

subject to future confirmation

Implies that current information is not final and needs to be verified later.

cannot be predicted

Expresses the impossibility of knowing the outcome in advance.

FAQs

How can I use "still to be seen" in a sentence?

You can use "still to be seen" to indicate that an outcome or result is uncertain and will only be revealed in the future. For example, "Whether the new policy will be effective is "still to be seen"".

What's a more formal alternative to "still to be seen"?

A more formal alternative to "still to be seen" is "remains to be seen". This phrase carries a similar meaning but is often preferred in academic or professional contexts.

Is "yet to be seen" the same as "still to be seen"?

"Yet to be seen" and "still to be seen" are very similar in meaning and can often be used interchangeably. Both phrases suggest that something has not happened or been revealed at the present time, but may occur in the future. Subtle differences might exist depending on context, but the core meaning is largely the same.

Can "still to be seen" be used to refer to things other than future events?

Yes, while commonly used to describe future outcomes, "still to be seen" can also refer to existing qualities or attributes that have not yet been observed or acknowledged. For example, "The full extent of the damage is "still to be seen"".