to be absolutely certain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be absolutely certain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a strong level of confidence or assurance about something. Example: "Before making a decision, I want to be absolutely certain that I have all the necessary information."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But he explained that it was hard to be "absolutely certain".

The New York Times

There was nothing I, or anyone else, could do to be absolutely certain she stayed safe.

The New York Times - Magazine

Computing recommends using a hammer to be absolutely certain of destroying the data.

The Guardian - Tech

You've done your homework?" Ms. Michalska asked Ms. Bowen, who turned out to be absolutely certain.

The New York Times

To be absolutely certain that someone is telling the truth, you have to crush his spirit.

The New York Times - Magazine

"You have to be absolutely certain you have goods ready that can really make a difference for your film".

The New York Times

2) You have to be absolutely certain that it was the ball, not the shoe, that broke the wicket.

The Guardian - Sport

"There's always a delay while the evidence is gathered to be absolutely certain," he said, according to the Herald.

The Washington Post

But aggressive and accusatory questioning may simply reflect its determination to be absolutely certain that the bombing conspiracy did not extend beyond the Tsarnaev brothers.

The New York Times

"We can only spend that once, so we have got to be absolutely certain that we are spending it in the right place, developing this facility," said Grant.

The Guardian - Sport

He said it was best to be absolutely certain there was no risk of aggravating the injury before Reyes plays again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to be absolutely certain" when you want to emphasize a high degree of confidence or assurance, especially when important decisions or actions depend on that certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "to be absolutely certain" too frequently in your writing, as it can make your tone sound repetitive or overly emphatic. Consider using synonyms like "to be completely sure" or "to be entirely confident" /s/to+be+entirely+confident for variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be absolutely certain" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase modifying a verb, often expressing a state of mind or a required condition. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in conveying a strong sense of assurance or conviction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to be absolutely certain" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey a high degree of assurance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. It frequently appears in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure you are emphasizing a genuine need for certainty and avoid overuse to maintain a balanced tone. Consider alternatives like "to be completely sure" or "to be entirely confident" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be completely sure

Focuses on the state of being 'sure' rather than emphasizing the 'absolute' nature of the certainty.

to be totally confident

Shifts the emphasis to 'confidence' as the basis for certainty, implying a strong belief.

to be entirely convinced

Highlights that the certainty arises from being 'convinced', suggesting persuasion.

to be without a doubt

Emphasizes the absence of 'doubt' as the foundation of the certainty, using a more emphatic tone.

to be unequivocally sure

Replaces 'absolutely' with 'unequivocally', reinforcing the certainty with a strong adverb.

to ascertain beyond any doubt

Emphasizes the action of 'ascertaining' and eliminating 'any doubt', focusing on the verification process.

to verify with absolute certainty

Focuses on the 'verification' process and explicitly states 'absolute certainty' as the outcome.

to confirm without question

Highlights the 'confirmation' and absence of 'question', implying a degree of certainty.

to be dead certain

Uses a more informal and emphatic expression to convey absolute certainty.

to be positively sure

Replaces 'absolutely' with 'positively', conveying a confident assurance.

FAQs

How can I use "to be absolutely certain" in a sentence?

You can use "to be absolutely certain" to express a strong conviction or assurance about something. For example, "I need to examine all the evidence /s/examine+all+the+evidence to be absolutely certain before making a judgment."

What are some alternatives to "to be absolutely certain"?

Alternatives include "to be completely sure", "to be totally confident", or "to be entirely convinced", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "to be absolutely certain"?

While "certain" already implies a degree of assurance, using "absolutely" emphasizes the strength of that assurance. The phrase is generally accepted and understood in English.

What's the difference between "to be absolutely certain" and "to be fairly certain"?

"To be absolutely certain" indicates a very high level of confidence and assurance, while "to be fairly certain" suggests a lower level of confidence, implying that there's still some room for doubt. If you are fairly certain you can use "to be relatively certain".