surely impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surely impossible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the certainty that something cannot happen or be achieved. Example: "Given the current circumstances, it seems surely impossible for us to meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

But that's surely impossible.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Duckett's case is surely impossible to ignore.

The Guardian - Sport

It was surely impossible, I secretly thought.

The Guardian

Compromise is surely impossible and "saving Labour" in such circumstances is out of the question.

The Guardian

It seems to be one single session with numerous cameras, yet this is surely impossible.

The Guardian - Arts

There were suggestions that Yukos was scaremongering in a bid to embarrass the government (surely impossible) into doing a deal.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

But perfection will surely be impossible.

The New York Times

"It's difficult, but surely not impossible".

The New York Times

But politically it would surely be impossible to do so.

The Guardian

It is surely psychologically impossible to be complacent and to play with fear.

The Guardian - Sport

It would surely be impossible to draw a map of this country, à la Tolkien or CS Lewis.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surely impossible" to express a strong conviction that something cannot happen or be achieved, ensuring the context supports this definitive tone. For instance, when discussing challenges, use it to highlight the extreme unlikelihood of success.

Common error

Avoid using "surely impossible" when the situation only presents a high degree of difficulty rather than a true impossibility. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and make your writing seem hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surely impossible" functions as an intensifier combined with an adjective phrase. "Surely" modifies "impossible", emphasizing the certainty of something not being achievable. Ludwig AI provides examples confirming this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "surely impossible" is a commonly used expression to convey a strong sense of certainty that something cannot happen. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and its usage appears across diverse sources, including news, science, and general articles. While alternatives like "definitely impossible" or "certainly impossible" exist, "surely impossible" maintains its unique emphasis. When using the phrase, ensure that the context supports the definitive tone, avoiding overstatement. With a source quality score of 91 and common usage, "surely impossible" remains a valuable tool for expressing strong conviction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

definitely impossible

Replaces "surely" with "definitely", strengthening the assertion of impossibility.

certainly impossible

Substitutes "surely" with "certainly", indicating a high degree of confidence in the impossibility.

undoubtedly impossible

Replaces "surely" with "undoubtedly", emphasizing the lack of doubt about the impossibility.

patently impossible

Uses "patently" instead of "surely" to describe something that is obviously impossible.

plainly impossible

Replaces "surely" with "plainly", meaning easily seen or understood to be impossible.

clearly impossible

Substitutes "surely" with "clearly", indicating an obvious impossibility.

unquestionably impossible

Indicates that something is impossible without any doubt. The wording is more emphatic than "surely impossible".

unthinkably impossible

Expresses that it's almost beyond comprehension that something could be impossible.

virtually impossible

Indicates that something is so close to impossible that it makes no practical difference.

practically impossible

Indicates that something cannot be achieved easily or realistically.

FAQs

How can I use "surely impossible" in a sentence?

The phrase "surely impossible" is used to express a strong belief that something cannot happen. For example, "Given the current budget constraints, it's "surely impossible" to complete the project on time".

What are some alternatives to saying "surely impossible"?

Alternatives include "definitely impossible", "certainly impossible", or "virtually impossible". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "surely impossible"?

While "impossible" already implies a lack of possibility, adding "surely" emphasizes the strength of that impossibility. It isn't necessarily redundant if you're aiming for emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "surely impossible" in writing?

Use "surely impossible" when you want to underscore the unlikelihood of an event or outcome, indicating a high degree of certainty in its impossibility. For example, "With his current lack of training, winning the marathon is "surely impossible"".