What is likely? Pronunciation and usage in English

Let's break down how to use the word "likely" in English. It's a versatile word that expresses a reasonable probability. Here's a detailed explanation:

1. Basic Meaning:

• "Likely" means "probably" or "having a high chance of happening." It suggests something is more probable than not, but doesn't guarantee it will happen.

2. How to Use It in Sentences:

Here are different ways to incorporate "likely" into your sentences:

• Expressing Probability:

  • "It's likely to rain tomorrow." (Suggests rain is a good possibility)
  • "She's likely to succeed in her career." (Suggests she has a high chance of achieving her goals)
  • "The project will be likely delayed due to unforeseen circumstances." (Suggests delay is a probable outcome)

• Adding Qualification: Often, "likely" softens a statement, making it less assertive.

  • "He's likely to be late, but I'm not sure." (Acknowledges lateness is possible, but there's uncertainty)
  • "The new policy is likely to have a positive impact, although there may be some challenges." (States a positive outcome is probable, but acknowledges potential difficulties)

• Comparing Possibilities:

  • "It's likely that he went to the store, rather than staying home." (Suggests going to the store is the more probable option)

• Reporting Opinions:

  • "The expert believes it's likely that the evidence will support the prosecution's case." (States an expert’s opinion about the probability)

3. Synonyms (Words with similar meanings):

• Probably
• Almost certainly
• Tend to
• More than likely
• Reasonable
• Probable

4. Important Distinctions:

• "Likely" vs. "Certain": “Certain” means absolutely guaranteed. “Likely” means probable but not definite.
• “Likely” vs. “Maybe”: “Maybe” is much less certain than “likely.” “Maybe” could be either way.

5. Examples in Context:

• "The company is likely to announce its quarterly earnings next week."
• "Because of the heavy snowfall, driving to work is likely to be difficult today."
• "I'm likely to ask for a raise soon, as I've been working very hard."
• "He is likely to win the election based on the current polls."

6. Tone and Formality:

"Likely" is a fairly formal word. It's perfectly suitable for professional writing, news reports, and academic contexts. In casual conversation, "probably" is often a more common and natural choice.

Resources for Further Learning:

• Grammarly Blog - How to Use "Likely": https://www.grammarly.com/blog/likely/
• Merriam-Webster - Likely: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/likely

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