virtually guaranteed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually guaranteed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a high level of certainty about an outcome, though it may not be absolute. Example: "With our extensive training program, success is virtually guaranteed for all participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That would virtually guarantee a Democratic victory.

The New York Times

That would virtually guarantee a flawed census.

The New York Times

The size of the squash will virtually guarantee sufficient yield.

The New York Times

Others think that would be foolish, since it would virtually guarantee victory for the Democrats.

The Economist

Lampard staying will virtually guarantee that he will surpass Bobby Tambling's club record of 202 goals.

Independent

They argued that the change would virtually guarantee his re-election.

The New York Times

STV would virtually guarantee that no single party could achieve an overall majority at Westminster.

The Economist

Still, state quotas for renewable energy will virtually guarantee some construction.

The New York Times

To some theorists, the new results virtually guarantee the existence of other Earthlike worlds.

The New York Times - Science

Of course, landing Mr. Romney as a guest would now virtually guarantee a night of big ratings for Mr. Letterman.

The New York Times

"Anybody who would vote for that in the House as Republican would virtually guarantee a primary challenger".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually guaranteed" to express a high degree of confidence in an outcome, but acknowledge that unforeseen circumstances could still alter the result. It's stronger than "likely" but not as absolute as "guaranteed".

Common error

Avoid using "virtually guaranteed" when the outcome is truly uncertain. Misusing the phrase can mislead your audience and damage your credibility. If there are significant risks or dependencies, choose a less assertive expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually guaranteed" functions as a modifier, specifically an adverb-verb combination, used to express a high degree of certainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it conveys near certainty without absolute assurance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The expression "virtually guaranteed" signifies a high probability of an event occurring, stopping short of absolute certainty. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. The phrase is commonly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When writing, use it to express confidence, acknowledging a small chance of unforeseen circumstances. Be cautious not to overstate certainty when the outcome is truly uncertain. As evidenced by the range of examples provided by Ludwig, "virtually guaranteed" is a versatile tool for conveying near certainty across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost certain

Emphasizes the high probability of an outcome.

nearly assured

Highlights the confidence in a specific result.

practically guaranteed

Similar to the original, but with a slightly different adverb.

virtually certain

Replaces "guaranteed" with "certain", maintaining the meaning.

tantamount to a guarantee

Expresses an equivalent level of assurance, but with more words.

as good as guaranteed

An informal way to express near certainty.

effectively guaranteed

Indicates that the guarantee is practically in place.

for all intents and purposes guaranteed

A more formal way of expressing virtual certainty.

all but guaranteed

Highlights that only a small chance of failure exists.

almost a certainty

Shifts from a guarantee to a high probability.

FAQs

How can I use "virtually guaranteed" in a sentence?

You can use "virtually guaranteed" to express a high degree of confidence about something. For example, "With these precautions, a safe outcome is virtually guaranteed."

What can I say instead of "virtually guaranteed"?

You can use alternatives like "almost certain", "nearly assured", or "practically guaranteed", depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "virtually guaranteed" in formal writing?

Yes, "virtually guaranteed" is suitable for formal writing when you want to express a high level of confidence without making an absolute claim. It's common in news reports and academic papers.

What's the difference between "virtually guaranteed" and "guaranteed"?

"Guaranteed" implies absolute certainty, whereas "virtually guaranteed" suggests a very high probability but acknowledges a slight possibility of failure or change. The subtle difference can be important in precise communication.