surely the last

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surely the last" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong belief or assumption that something is the final instance or occurrence of a particular situation. Example: "After years of searching, I believe this is surely the last opportunity to find the missing artifact."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Surely the last things we want to eat are babies.

The Guardian - Books

Surely the last thing we want is defensive advocacy.

The Guardian

He isn't the first, or surely the last, to try to capitalize on the booming New York luxury market.

The New York Times

Still, when the man of the match announcement came it was surely the last word in formality.

Independent

A reinvigorated Nepal Army is surely the last thing that the Maoists would want.There is still hope, however.

The Economist

Such a response was surely the last thing from the minds of the creators of "Chicago".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

And Ritt surely had the last word.

The New Yorker

1953 would almost surely be the last chance.

The Guardian - Sport

This, surely, is the last day of knighthood.

The Guardian - Books

"Removing the child from their parent must surely be the last resort".

Independent

This is the first, but it's surely not the last.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "surely the last", ensure the context clearly indicates a sense of finality or a strong expectation that something will not occur again. This phrase works best when emphasizing a conclusive point or event.

Common error

Avoid using "surely the last" when there's considerable uncertainty about whether something is truly the final instance. Overusing it can weaken its impact and credibility. Instead, consider phrases that indicate possibility rather than certainty if the situation warrants it.

Linguistic Context

"Surely the last" functions as an intensifier combined with a determiner and adjective to express a strong belief or expectation that something is the final occurrence. Ludwig confirms this usage in numerous examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Academia

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Surely the last" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a strong belief that something is the final instance or occurrence. As supported by Ludwig, it appears most frequently in News & Media, conveying conviction. While versatile, overuse can weaken its impact. Consider related phrases like "undoubtedly the final" or "certainly the end" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undoubtedly the final

Emphasizes the lack of doubt about something being the final occurrence; replaces "surely" with a stronger term.

certainly the end

Focuses on the termination or conclusion of something, using "certainly" for emphasis.

definitely the last

Uses "definitely" to reinforce the idea of something being the final instance.

without a doubt the last

Highlights the absence of uncertainty regarding the finality of an event or situation.

assuredly the termination

Replaces "surely" with "assuredly" and "last" with "termination" to signify the end.

most certainly the ultimate

Emphasizes the certainty and finality using "most certainly" and "ultimate".

undeniably the concluding

Uses "undeniably" to stress the indisputable nature of the conclusion.

positively the last

Uses "positively" to affirm the finality of something.

unquestionably the end

Stresses the lack of questioning about the ending.

indisputably the final

Highlights that something is the final occurrence and there is no disputing it.

FAQs

How can I use "surely the last" in a sentence?

Use "surely the last" to express a strong belief that something is the final occurrence or instance. For example, "This is "surely the last" time I'm helping him with his homework."

What are some alternatives to "surely the last"?

You can use alternatives such as "definitely the last", "undoubtedly the final", or "certainly the end" to convey a similar sense of finality or strong likelihood.

Is it appropriate to use "surely the last" in formal writing?

Yes, "surely the last" is suitable for formal writing, especially in news or analytical contexts where you want to express a strong conviction about the end of something.

What's the difference between "surely the last" and "probably the last"?

"Surely the last" expresses a stronger conviction or expectation of finality than "probably the last", which implies a higher degree of uncertainty.