we certainly are

USAGE SUMMARY

"We certainly are" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize agreement about a topic, typically when responding to a statement. For example, if someone said "We need to do something about this," you could respond with "We certainly are."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We certainly are.

Forbes

We certainly are waiting.

The New York Times - Books

"We certainly are getting a bad deal".

The Guardian

We certainly are living in interesting times.

The Guardian - Film

We certainly are not the ones making unilateral decisions anymore.

The New York Times

We certainly are not going to fan those flames.

The Guardian

"We certainly are discouraging businesses from setting up shop here".

The New York Times

"We certainly are not planning to drop it," he said.

The New York Times

And we certainly are going to need it for water.

MIT Technology Review

"We certainly are expecting to have a fight on our hands".

The New York Times

"We certainly are not suggesting that all of the corridors be halted.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we certainly are" to express strong agreement or confirmation, particularly when responding to a previous statement or question. It adds emphasis and conviction to your affirmation.

Common error

Avoid using "we certainly are" excessively in your writing. While it's a valid expression, overuse can make your text sound repetitive. Vary your language with alternative phrases to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we certainly are" functions as an emphatic affirmative response, used to express strong agreement or confirmation. Ludwig examples show this phrase in various contexts, underscoring its role in conveying certainty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we certainly are" is a versatile phrase used to express strong agreement or confirmation across various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in news and media. While it's a useful phrase, be mindful of overuse and consider using alternatives to maintain reader engagement. The phrase is generally neutral in tone, making it suitable for a wide range of communication scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we definitely are

Replaces 'certainly' with 'definitely', offering a slightly less formal tone while maintaining the emphasis.

we absolutely are

Substitutes 'certainly' with 'absolutely', providing a stronger affirmation.

we surely are

Uses 'surely' instead of 'certainly', offering a slightly softer but confident agreement.

we indeed are

Employs 'indeed' in place of 'certainly', providing a more formal and emphatic confirmation.

that's for sure

Shifts the structure to an idiomatic expression that confirms the statement with certainty.

without a doubt

Expresses complete agreement by stating there is no uncertainty.

we are without question

Replaces "certainly" with "without question", conveying conviction.

we are most assuredly

Uses "most assuredly" to emphasize the certainty of the agreement.

you can bet on it

An informal way of expressing strong agreement or confirmation.

rest assured, we are

Adds reassurance to the agreement, indicating that there is no need to worry.

FAQs

How can I use "we certainly are" in a sentence?

Use "we certainly are" to express strong agreement or confirmation. For example, if someone asks "Are you committed to this project?", you could respond with "We certainly are".

What can I say instead of "we certainly are"?

You can use alternatives like "we definitely are", "we absolutely are", or "that's for sure" depending on the context.

Is "we certainly are" formal or informal?

"We certainly are" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's appropriate for most professional and news contexts, but may sound a bit stiff in very casual settings. Consider "you can bet on it" in more informal situation.

What's the difference between "we certainly are" and "we probably are"?

"We certainly are" expresses a strong, confident agreement, while "we probably are" indicates a likely but not definite agreement. The former conveys assurance, whereas the latter suggests uncertainty.