Does that expression mean "I'm totally sure" or "I'm almost sure"? I always thought the first option was correct, but once I saw in a series episode a character who said that, and his interlocutor expressed skepticism about it (something like "Are you sure or pretty sure?"). Does that depend on context, or does it always mean the same?
asked Feb 7, 2013 at 12:32
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4 Answers
We can't assign a percentage of certainty to it, but it isn't close to 100%. Perhaps 60-85% certain is close to what it means for most native speakers. The more emphatic the statement (stress and pitch and volume are involved, because this is primarily spoken English, but in written English it might be underlined or in bold font or in capital letters for emphasis), the more certain the speaker/writer is. I'm quite sure probably means about 90-100% certain, however.
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1@mcalex: I'd have to hear it spoken. High pitch and stress on "pretty" indicates less certainty in my idiolect. But I agree that not everyone will assign the same % of certainty to the expression. I think so is almost an equivalent expression for me, but probably closer to 50-50.– user264Feb 7, 2013 at 13:09
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5On the 60-85% vs 80-90% debate: it could well be that different individuals have varying threshholds for how much confidence they would need to have before declaring they were "pretty sure" about something.– J.R. ♦Feb 7, 2013 at 15:49
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1@J.R.: Yes, I agree that there's no consensus. Yesterday I said the same thing about how many Xs someone who says "a couple of Xs" or "a few Xs" means. Anywhere from 2-5, perhaps. There are no definitive definitions to parade on the EL&U runway that'll settle the point.– user264Feb 7, 2013 at 16:10
I'm going to go ahead and propose a different answer, despite @Bill_Franke's answer already having more than 10 upvotes. I think Bill's answer is likely a perfectly correct representation of the usage of pretty sure in American English but I speak British English and to me it means something different.
pretty, adv.
a. Qualifying an adjective or adverb: to a considerable extent; fairly, moderately; rather, quite. In later use also: very.
Whilst I would understand the to a considerable extent meaning, given context and intonation, my default would be to assume this later use of very. Further, if I were to say she's pretty good looking or, for our current question, I'm pretty sure I could drive that van, these would mean she's gorgeous or I can definitely drive that van, no question.
b. pretty much: almost, very nearly; more or less; (also, in early use) very much, considerably.
Whilst this definition is specific to pretty much, I see it as very synonymous with pretty sure. The phrase I've pretty much finished work would imply, to me, that only a few moments' work is left. The phrase I'm pretty sure Adam finished work by now means that I would be very surprised if Adam had not finished work.
Finally, pretty sure can be used as a form of politeness or disingenuous courtesy. I'm pretty sure that's not how you do it may be seen as a nicer alternative to Wrong!, and I'm pretty sure you'll find that's not the case is somewhat less friendly, though more socially acceptable.
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In brief, I believe that in British English, pretty sure would generally be taken to mean certain, or at least 90% close to certain. I currently live in the USA and this is often a source of confusion.
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2very interesting! I never knew this. Now I will have to listen more closely to my British friends.– hunterJan 20, 2014 at 15:09
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My first language is British English and, while I understand and appreciate the British propensity for understatement, I disagree with the crux of this answer. "Yeah, she's pretty good looking but no stunner" and "oh, the steering's much heavier than I expected" would both follow naturally. Perhaps @user264's percentages would nudge upwards in certain circles, but not, imo, by as much as Ina would have here. Sep 14, 2015 at 1:28
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@hunter hahahaha can't stop smiling almost at the same time jumping off the cliff!. Never have encountered a situation that native speakers pay highest insight into the every day word!– user17814Apr 6, 2018 at 6:49
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So much depends on context. We may also need to take irony and a feel-free-to-see-for-yourself attitude into account.
I wouldn't sit on that bench if I were you. The paint is wet.
-- Looks dry to me.
I just painted it, so I'm pretty sure it's wet. But go ahead, have a seat.
The phrase "I'm pretty sure" there, while it means on its surface "There's a chance I'm wrong", actually means "I know damn well that the paint is wet but it's ultimately up to you to make that determination for yourself if you're the kind of person who ignores a friendly warning when you're given one."
In Australia…
I would understand “I am pretty sure” by the tone of voice used.
“I am pretty sure”, spoken in a held-back sort of way, would mean that I am now wondering if I was wrong, and I am inviting comment. Alternatively, it might be a polite way of suggesting that someone else is wrong — e.g. “I am pretty sure that… if we keep going down this street, we will end up back at the park”.
“I am pretty sure”, spoken with “pretty sure” going down in pitch, would mean that the other person was definitely wrong, and was missing something — like in Tᴚoɯɐuo’s example about wet paint.
“I am pretty sure that X”, spoken in a matter-of-fact way (and slightly slowly), would mean that there is a conversation in which no one is certain… but that I have very little doubt that X is true (but it is possible that I am entirely wrong). For example, if there are several people in a car, and we are lost, and have a map… I might say, “I am pretty sure that, if we take this road, we will be driving away from the river.”
I suppose that the point is that the qualifier “pretty”, with “sure”, carries the idea that someone is, or could be, mistaken.
