that must be true

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'that must be true' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something is necessary or certain to be true. For example: "The teacher said that the exam would be difficult, and that must be true given how much we've studied."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Based upon a set of predefined high-level state relationships that must be true for future actions to occur, a robot can use the detailed state information described in this paper to infer the probability of subsequent actions occurring.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

From there, he would ramble on about China, winning, losing, Islamic terror, Muslims, Mexicans, bigness, something about something that must be true because he read it or heard it somewhere, the disgusting lying press, and, inevitably, his fantastic super-successful incredibly intelligent self.

The New Yorker

Block notes that Searle ignores the counterfactuals that must be true of an implementing system.

SEP

But the kind of necessity that concerns us here is epistemic necessity, the necessity of things that must be true given what we know.

SEP

Philosophers have long recognized that there is an important distinction within the class of true propositions: the distinction between those propositions that might have been false and those that could not have been false (those that must be true).

SEP

Arguing against a supervenience thesis that must be true if some program of reduction or conceptual analysis is to succeed is a common way of arguing that the program cannot succeed.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

AHIP spokesman Robert Zirkelbach was quoted as saying, "Many stakeholders agree that exchanges must be true marketplaces that maximize choice and competition so that consumers and small businesses can purchase the plan that best meets their needs".

Huffington Post

This is the force that must be harnessed for true change.

The Guardian - Opinion

What she doesn't do is argue that the Democratic Party is a fundamentally corrupt institution that must be overcome if true change is to be achieved.

The Washington Post

Note that this makes sense of the idea that (2) must be true but, say, "People watch TV" could be false, for surely this sentence was not true in Diodorus' time.

SEP

Moreover, under the assumption that all provable sentences are true, it follows that there must be true sentences which are not provable.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For improved impact consider replacing the modal verb "must" with alternatives like "has to" for emphasis, or "seems to" when expressing uncertainty

Common error

Avoid using "that must be true" when the evidence is weak or anecdotal; instead, use qualifiers like "likely" or "probably" to reflect the uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

That must be true functions as a modal phrase used to express a logical deduction or inference. It suggests that, based on available evidence or information, the statement is likely or necessarily true. Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that must be true" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a logical inference or deduction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's generally acceptable across various contexts, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional settings. The phrase is frequently used in News & Media and Science contexts, carrying a neutral register. To enhance your writing, consider using synonyms like "that has to be true" for emphasis or "that seems to be true" to indicate uncertainty, but avoid overstating certainty when evidence is weak.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that has to be true

Replaces "must" with "has to", indicating obligation or necessity, making it slightly stronger.

that's definitely true

Adds emphasis with "definitely", highlighting the speaker's strong belief in the truth of the statement.

that is certainly true

Uses "certainly" to express confidence in the veracity of the statement, similar to "definitely".

that's undoubtedly true

Emphasizes the lack of doubt with "undoubtedly", suggesting that the truth is unquestionable.

that seems to be true

Introduces a degree of uncertainty with "seems", implying the truth is based on appearance rather than absolute certainty.

it stands to reason that's true

Implies a logical deduction, suggesting the truth is derived from a rational understanding of the situation.

it necessarily follows that's true

Suggests a logical necessity, implying the truth is a direct consequence of preceding facts.

that logically must be true

Emphasizes the logical aspect of the conclusion, making it more formal and analytical.

that checks out

A more informal way of saying something seems true after verification or consideration.

I can believe that

Expresses personal acceptance or belief in the statement, rather than objective certainty.

FAQs

How can I use "that must be true" in a sentence?

You can use "that must be true" to indicate a logical conclusion based on given information. For example, "The roads are icy; "that must be true" since it snowed last night."

What's a more emphatic way to say "that must be true"?

For a more emphatic statement, consider using phrases like "that has to be true" or "that's definitely true" instead. These alternatives add a stronger sense of certainty or obligation.

Are there alternatives to "that must be true" for expressing uncertainty?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "that seems to be true" or "that appears to be true" to express a degree of uncertainty or reliance on appearances.

Is "that must be true" appropriate for formal writing?

While "that must be true" is generally acceptable, for more formal contexts, consider using more precise and analytical alternatives like "it necessarily follows that's true" or "that logically must be true".