will certainly return

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will certainly return" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express a strong belief or assurance that someone or something will come back. Example: "After the break, she will certainly return to finish her presentation." Alternative expressions include "will definitely come back" and "is sure to return."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

I've spent only a short time with El Shaddai since it was released in North America by Ignition Entertainment in August but I will certainly return to it.

The New York Times - Arts

Iran's best clerical students will certainly return to the holy city of Najaf in Iraq, the most prestigious center of learning in Shiism.

The New York Times

The last time India toured Australia, for example, Tendulkar was given fond farewells wherever he went, but he will certainly return there once again at the end of this season.

BBC

And if there are other funds that were connected to him that we're not aware of, then we will certainly return them.

Huffington Post

We will certainly return to these matters once we have had more experience.

EU Parlament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And should the Republicans prevail in 2012, relations will almost certainly return to the Stone Age of nonengagement — hinged on the mantra that "Fidel will go any day now".

The New York Times

The chronic problem of Greece will almost certainly return in the autumn.

The Economist

And he will almost certainly return there after his eventual departure as coach.

The New York Times

If Flaherty stays healthy, he will almost certainly return as Jorge Posada's backup.

The New York Times - Sports

Even if they pay nothing, he added, they will almost certainly return as paying customers.

The New York Times

The expenses crisis will almost certainly return to haunt Mr Brown on Thursday, when Labour is braced for defeat in a by-election in Norwich North.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when you want to provide strong reassurance to the reader or when a future event is backed by high-confidence evidence.

Common error

Avoid combining "certainly" with other certainty-based adverbs like "definitely" or "surely" (e.g., "will definitely certainly return"). This creates awkward tautologies that weaken the professional tone of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will certainly return" functions as an emphasized future tense verb construction. The auxiliary verb "will" establishes the future timeframe, while the adverb "certainly" modifies the entire predicate to indicate a high degree of confidence or commitment. According to Ludwig, this structure is a standard way to convey absolute assurance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "will certainly return" is a powerful tool for writers who need to convey strong conviction about future events. Ludwig AI confirms that while the exact match is relatively rare compared to simpler forms, its presence in elite publications like The New York Times and the BBC underscores its utility in serious discourse. It serves as a more authoritative version of "will return", effectively bridging the gap between a simple statement of fact and a formal guarantee. When using it, ensure the placement of the adverb "certainly" feels natural within the sentence flow, typically following the modal verb "will".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is sure to return

Uses an adjective-based construction to emphasize certainty

will undoubtedly return

Uses a more formal adverb to remove any possibility of doubt

will definitely come back

Uses a more conversational phrasal verb instead of the formal return

will inevitably return

Suggests that the return is unavoidable due to natural or logical reasons

will almost certainly return

Adds a slight hedge, indicating a very high probability rather than absolute fact

is bound to return

Implies a sense of destiny or strong expectation

will return for sure

Shifts the emphasis to the end of the phrase, common in spoken English

shall certainly return

Uses the more formal or archaic auxiliary verb shall

is expected to return

Softens the certainty to an anticipated event based on current information

will likely return

Indicates high probability without the absolute assurance of certainly

FAQs

What is a more formal way to say "will certainly return"?

A more formal alternative is "is sure to return" or "will undoubtedly return".

Can I use "will certainly return" in a business email?

Yes, it is very appropriate. For example, "I "will certainly return your call" by end of day."

What is the difference between "will certainly return" and "will likely return"?

The phrase "will certainly return" expresses a high level of conviction, whereas "will likely return" suggests it is probable but not guaranteed.

Is it correct to say "certainly will return"?

While "certainly will return" is grammatically acceptable and used for specific emphasis, placing the adverb after "will" is the standard and more common structure.