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I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Alternatives for Certain

Alternatives is a recurring post in which I give synonyms for an over used word. Click on the tab above for a "complete" list of over used words.



Today's word is:

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I often find it interesting how one word can have so many nuances of meaning. Take certain, for example. It can be used in the sense of being anonymous as in, "A certain person told me it's your birthday today." Or in the sense of surety as in, "For certain the sun will rise tomorrow." It's certain, some of us may use this word too much so...

...depending on how you use it, this list may come in handy for finding another way to say the same thing.


absolute/absolutely, accepted, accomplished, acknowledged, anonymous, as a matter of course, ascertained, assertive, assured, authentic, avoidless

believing beyond all doubt/question, bound

calm, can’t miss, categorical, certitude, clear, clear as a bell, clear as day, clinch, cocksure, conclusive, confident, confirmed, constant, convinced

deadly, dead sure, decided, decisive, definite, dependable, definite, destined, determinate/determined, dismiss all doubt, doomed, doubtless

effective, ensure, established, evident, exact, explicit, express

fact, fail-safe, fated, final, find out once and for all, firm, fixed, flat, foolproof, for a certainty, foreordained,  frozen,

given, good, goof-proof, guaranteed

hard, hard-and-fast

idiot-proof, implicit, inarguable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, individual,  indubitable, ineluctable, ineluctable, ineludible, inescapable, inevitable,  inexorable, inexpugnable, infallible, in no doubt, in the bag, in truth,  irrefutable, it’s gospel, it’s scripture

known

lay down the law, likely

matter of fact

named, necessary, no doubt, no mistake, nonadjustable, noncancelable, nonnegotiable, not in doubt,

obvious, of course, official, one

particular, persuaded, past dispute, plain, positive, possible, precise, predestined, predetermined, preordained, probable

questionless

recognized, relentless, reliable, resolute, responsible,

safe, sanguine, satisfied, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-evident, set, set to rest,  settled, solid, some, special, specific, stable, stated, staunch, steady, stipulated, sure/sureness/surety, sure as fate, sure as death and taxes, sure as shooting, sure enough, sure fire, sure thing,

tried and tested, to be sure, tried and true, true, trustworthy, trusty

unanswerable, unarguable, unavoidable unchangeable/unchanging, unchallengeable, unconcerned, uncontestable, uncontrovertible, undefeasible, undeniable, undisputable/undisputed, undisturbed, undoubted/undoubtful/undoubting, unequivocal, unerring, unfailing, unfaltering, unhesitating, unidentified, uniform, unimpeachable, unmistakable, unnamed, unperturbed, unremitting, unspecified, unstoppable, unquestioned/unquestionable, untroubled, unwavering

valid, very likely


well-founded, without a shadow of doubt/question, without fail, without power of appeal

***

This is kind of a sweet song by Jay and the Americas recorded live at The Cafe Wha? way back in 1962. It was first made popular by Johnny Mathis in 1958, but I kind of like this version.

13 comments:

  1. One of those is really obvious!
    Sorry, bad pun.
    Thanks for the extensive list, Bish.

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  2. Thanks for the suggestions. This isn't a word I use too much. My latest struggle is "then".

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  3. I'm not bad with the word, but I do love having more exciting choices like what you've listed!!!

    Thanks, Bish!

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  4. Your blog might start popping up in a thesaurus search. :-)

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  5. Great alternative words Bish. No wonder as writers we struggle to find the best word.

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  6. Have been struggling with over-used words lately. the correct word seems to fly out of reach.

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  7. Great choices for alternatives to certain! Without a doubt I will use some of these. :)
    ~Jess

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  8. Language is a beautiful thing, isn't it? One little word sprouted all these alternatives. ;)

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  9. I like to browse your lists for a favorite. From this list, it might be "unimpeachable." Such a fun mouthful :)

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  10. I tend to use certainly. Thanks for the list! Hope you have a great weekend, Bish!!

    Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines

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  11. Love this list, Bish! This is certainly a word that gets overused (haha, I am so punny!)

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  12. Thanks for the song and the synonyms.

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  13. Hi Bish .. the English language is a wonderful concoction of words ... I don't think I use certain too often - but in my life that certain would be probably I'll get to it sometime!

    That certain smile is enticing isn't it ...

    Cheers and I love your lists - Hilary

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!