what sure does

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what sure does" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to emphasize agreement or affirmation in a conversational context. Example: "That movie was amazing, and what sure does make it even better is the soundtrack." Alternative expressions include "what definitely does" and "what certainly does."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

4. We are not sure what does the reviewer mean.

Biology Direct

"I'm not sure what he does.

The New York Times - Arts

I'm not sure what it does, but......

The New York Times

In fact, no one seems sure what Rollo does.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I'm not entirely sure what he does.

The Guardian - Sport

Nobody's sure what Harv does for a living.

The New York Times

Not sure what it does.

TechCrunch

Still not quite sure what Twilio does?

TechCrunch

Not sure what it does for my life.

Los Angeles Times

I am not sure what this does really mean.

Biology Direct

"Sure, what do you need?" "Well... .. he hesitates.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the subject and verb agreement is maintained when using this phrase as part of a relative clause.

Common error

Avoid using "what sure does" in indirect questions where the subject should precede the verb. For example, write "I am not sure what it does" instead of the non-standard "I am not sure what does it do".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what sure does" typically functions as a component of a relative clause or an indirect question. According to Ludwig AI, it serves as an emphatic construction where "sure" acts as an intensifier for the verb "does". In many instances found in the dataset, it is part of a larger negation ("not sure what...") where it identifies a lack of knowledge regarding a specific function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what sure does" is a versatile English phrase most frequently employed in high-quality journalism and academic discourse. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable, particularly when serving to emphasize agreement or clarify the function of an object. While it often appears within the negative construction "not sure what...", its use as an intensifier is a valid way to add weight to a statement. Writers should be careful not to confuse it with the interrogative word order in indirect questions, but otherwise, it remains a reliable tool for expressing varying degrees of certainty and functional description across different registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what certainly does

Increases the level of formality and provides a stronger sense of conviction

what definitely does

Uses a more modern and emphatic adverb to convey total certainty

what really does

Focuses on the actual or factual nature of the action rather than just certainty

what exactly does

Shifts the focus to precision and specific details of the action

what precisely does

Highly formal alternative emphasizing accuracy in description

what truly does

Adds a layer of sincerity or essential truth to the statement

not sure what

The most common surrounding context found in real-world usage examples

unsure what does

A more concise way to express lack of certainty about a function

what clearly does

Suggests that the action or function is obvious to any observer

what naturally does

Implies that the action follows a logical or inherent progression

FAQs

How do I use "what sure does" in a sentence?

You can use it to add emphasis to a statement, such as "The weather is nice, and "what sure does" make it better is the breeze". It also frequently appears in the negative, as in "I am not "sure what it does"".

What is the difference between "what sure does" and "what certainly does"?

The phrase "what certainly does" is more formal, while "what sure does" is often found in more casual or journalistic contexts to provide conversational emphasis.

Is "what sure does" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is correct when "sure" acts as an adverbial intensifier. However, as noted by Ludwig, it is more commonly seen as a sequence of words in expressions like "not sure what the device does".

Can I use "what really does" as an alternative?

Absolutely. Using "what really does" is a very common way to emphasize the truth of a function or action in both formal and informal settings.