will very likely

USAGE SUMMARY

'will very likely' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something is likely to happen, either due to probability or due to past evidence. For example, "The virus will very likely continue to spread in the coming months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It will very likely save lives".

The New York Times

Taxes will very likely go up.

The New York Times

Corky Lee will very likely be there.

The New York Times - Arts

But back bends will very likely help.

The New York Times

The work that remains will very likely focus on relating.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

If a vote is held, Maduro will very likely lose.

The New Yorker

"You will very likely die in prison," the judge added.

The Guardian

Several more will very likely have business uses.

The New York Times

It will very likely remain his greatest book.

The New Yorker

strong, it will very likely have the opposite effect.

The New York Times

You will very likely need to cook the meat longer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "will very likely" when you want to express a strong probability but not absolute certainty about a future event or outcome. It strikes a balance between prediction and acknowledgment of potential uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "will very likely" when the outcome is virtually guaranteed or already determined. Opt for stronger expressions like "will certainly" or "is guaranteed to" to accurately reflect the level of certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will very likely" functions as a modal phrase expressing a strong degree of probability regarding a future event. As confirmed by Ludwig, it indicates that something is expected to occur based on current information or trends.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "will very likely" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express a strong probability or expectation about a future event. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's appropriate for various contexts, with a slightly neutral register, making it suitable for both news, general communications and scientific discussions. It is mostly used in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts. Alternatives like "is highly probable" or "will probably" can be used depending on the desired level of formality or emphasis. While widely accepted, it's important to avoid overstating certainty and choose stronger expressions when the outcome is virtually guaranteed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will probably

A more concise and informal way to express a likely future event.

is highly probable

Replaces the modal verb construction with a more direct statement of probability, sounding slightly more formal.

is almost certain to

Suggests a very high degree of confidence in the outcome, stronger than "will very likely".

is bound to

Implies a sense of inevitability or destiny, stronger than "will very likely".

is expected to

Indicates an expectation based on current trends or predictions, slightly less emphatic.

is anticipated to

Similar to "is expected to", but can imply a more formal or official expectation.

is prone to

Implies a predisposition or tendency toward a particular outcome, suitable when discussing habitual behaviors or conditions.

is apt to

Similar to "is prone to", suggesting a natural tendency, often used in more formal contexts.

is poised to

Suggests readiness or preparation for a particular outcome, often used in business or strategic contexts.

is liable to

Suggests a susceptibility or vulnerability to a particular outcome, often negative.

FAQs

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

Use "will very likely" to express a high probability. For example, "Given the current trends, the company "will very likely" exceed its sales targets this quarter".

What phrases are similar to "will very likely"?

Alternatives include "is highly probable", "will probably", or "is almost certain to". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "will very likely" too informal for academic writing?

While not strictly informal, "will very likely" might be perceived as less formal than alternatives like "is highly probable" or "is anticipated to". Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "will likely" and "will very likely"?

"Will very likely" implies a stronger degree of probability than "will likely". The addition of "very" emphasizes the speaker's confidence in the predicted outcome.