Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
would likely to
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase 'would likely to' is not proper English and cannot be used.
Instead, you should use the phrase 'would likely'. For example, "He would likely go to the store tomorrow."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Formal & Business
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
In answer to the first question on the size of the effect, it could be large enough to feel like a good-sized bump in the road, but the economy would likely to be able to absorb the shock.
News & Media
If convicted, Gilani would likely to be barred from office.
News & Media
Any program not taken up involving any of these factors would likely to fail.
That member of Congress would likely to face a primary challenge.
News & Media
Election officials said the recount would likely to happen on Friday morning.
News & Media
Information about the tensile and shear characteristics would likely to be of great use in designing Au Sn soldering packages for MEMS.
But if more serious work is required, it would likely to be at least a day, possibly longer.
News & Media
About 98percentt of respondents said a "big spike" in restructuring incidents is looming, and 65percentt said it would likely to come by this winter.
News & Media
The governor, Nikita Belykh, once headed a liberal opposition party, and Markin knew that the case would likely to be interpreted as political.
News & Media
He added that an old train would likely to run to Citi Field for this year's All-Star Game and "hopefully to both stadiums come October".
News & Media
Growing concerns about these risks would likely to be taken by the markets as evidence that the Fed will not deviate from its plan to raise rates gradually.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Always use "would likely" instead of "would likely to". The inclusion of 'to' after 'likely' is grammatically incorrect.
Common error
Do not add 'to' after "likely" when using "would". The correct form is "would likely" followed by a verb (e.g., "would likely happen"). Adding 'to' creates a grammatical error.
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
2.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "would likely to" functions as an attempt to express a conditional probability or expectation. However, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "would likely" without the additional 'to'.
Frequent in
News & Media
44%
Science
42%
Formal & Business
1%
Less common in
Wiki
2%
Academia
9%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "would likely to" appears frequently across various sources, it's essential to recognize that it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI clearly states, the correct form is "would likely". The intention behind using this phrase is generally to express a conditional probability or expectation. Given the error, it's advisable to use the correct form or consider alternatives like "is likely to" or "would probably" depending on the intended meaning and context. Paying attention to this distinction enhances the clarity and correctness of your writing.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
would likely
Removes the unnecessary 'to', correcting the grammatical error and aligning with standard English usage.
would probably
Substitutes 'likely' with 'probably', providing a synonym that maintains a similar level of certainty.
is likely to
Changes the modal verb to 'is', altering the tense and perspective to a more present-focused prediction.
is expected to
Replaces 'likely' with 'expected', shifting the emphasis to an anticipated outcome based on current conditions.
is anticipated to
Uses 'anticipated' instead of 'likely', suggesting a slightly more formal expectation.
may well
Employs 'may well', offering a shorter, more emphatic way to express a strong likelihood.
could easily
Uses 'could easily', indicating a potential outcome that requires minimal effort or change.
is apt to
Substitutes 'likely' with 'apt', providing a more formal and less common synonym.
is poised to
Replaces 'likely' with 'poised', indicating readiness or a high probability due to current positioning.
is inclined to
Employs 'inclined', suggesting a tendency or predisposition toward a particular outcome.
FAQs
How do I properly use "would likely" in a sentence?
Use "would likely" followed directly by the base form of a verb. For example, "He "would likely attend" the meeting" is correct, while "He would likely to attend the meeting" is incorrect.
What's the difference between "would likely" and "is likely to"?
"Would likely" expresses a conditional probability, while "is likely to" expresses a general expectation. "He "would likely succeed" if he tried" suggests a condition, while "He "is likely to succeed"" suggests a high probability based on current circumstances.
Can I use "would likely" in formal writing?
Yes, "would likely" is suitable for formal writing when used correctly. Ensure you avoid the error of adding "to" after "likely". Alternatives like "is expected to" or "is anticipated to" can also be used for a more formal tone.
What are some alternatives to "would likely"?
Alternatives include "would probably", "is likely to", "may well", or depending on the context, "is expected to" or "is anticipated to".
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
2.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested