very likely yes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very likely yes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong probability or agreement with a positive response to a question or statement. Example: "Given the current evidence and circumstances, the answer to your proposal is very likely yes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"The answer is, very likely, yes".

The New York Times

Very likely, yes.

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I don't think it is very likely but yes, I would do it given the opportunity," drummer Nick Mason said last week, according to The Guardian.

Huffington Post

But the tactic backfired: there were 183 votes backing Mr Aznar, exactly the same as the number of Popular Party deputies, allowing him to claim their unanimous backing.Bulgaria is also very likely to vote yes.

The Economist

She'll get a good chuckle out of this and will be very likely to say yes.

WikiHow

"But yes, it's very likely that it provoked that reaction.

The Guardian

So yes, it looks very likely that an IPO is in the works.

Forbes

So yes, it appears very likely at this point that a Nuance/Apple partnership is a big part of Apple's cloud initiative.

TechCrunch

Judging by how uncategorically gross these places seem to be, it was very likely that no one would say yes.

Vice

David Quammen explained, "What the experts say is that, first of all, yes, it is very likely that new diseases will continue to emerge.

Vice

Are you linking to a bad site with a low page rank? if yes, you're very likely to get de-indexed.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very likely yes" when you want to express a strong agreement while acknowledging a small degree of uncertainty. It's suitable for situations where complete certainty isn't possible but the evidence strongly suggests a positive outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "very likely yes" when the situation calls for absolute certainty or a simple "yes". Overstating the probability can undermine your credibility if the outcome isn't as expected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very likely yes" primarily functions as an affirmative response qualified by an adverbial phrase of probability. It combines agreement with a degree of uncertainty. Ludwig AI confirms this expression as correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very likely yes" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a strong agreement qualified by a high probability. While not as common as a simple "yes", it's appropriate in situations where complete certainty is lacking but the evidence suggests a positive outcome is probable. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English. It is most frequently found in news, scientific, and wiki contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to avoid overstating certainty when absolute assurance is required. Consider alternatives like "most probably yes" or "highly likely yes" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most probably yes

Emphasizes the probability aspect, similar to "very likely", but uses different wording.

highly likely yes

Synonymous with "very likely", indicating a strong chance of a positive outcome.

almost certainly yes

Suggests a near certainty, slightly stronger than "very likely".

quite possibly yes

Indicates a good chance but with a hint of uncertainty.

in all likelihood yes

Formal way to express a high probability.

presumably yes

Implies an assumption based on available evidence.

it is probable yes

A more formal and slightly less common way of saying "likely yes".

it seems likely yes

Focuses on the perception of likelihood.

chances are yes

An informal way to express likelihood.

yes, I'd say so

Expresses agreement with a statement and indicates a likelihood.

FAQs

How can I use "very likely yes" in a sentence?

You can use "very likely yes" to express a strong agreement or a high probability of a positive outcome. For instance, "Is it likely to rain tomorrow? Very likely yes, given the forecast."

What are some alternatives to "very likely yes"?

Alternatives include "most probably yes", "highly likely yes", or "almost certainly yes", depending on the degree of certainty you want to convey.

Is "very likely yes" grammatically correct?

Yes, "very likely yes" is grammatically correct. It functions as an affirmative response qualified by an adverbial phrase indicating a high degree of probability.

When is it appropriate to use "very likely yes" instead of a simple "yes"?

Use "very likely yes" when you want to convey that you are confident in the affirmative outcome but not absolutely certain. It's suitable when there is some level of uncertainty or dependence on external factors.