Comparative Vocabulary

2007-11-08

Here's a fun one. Below is a list of my percentage certainty when I say some phrases. Imagine each phrase being inserted into the following sentence:

"I _________ this is true"

Possible phrases include:

• am absolutely certain = 99%
• am certain = 95%
• know = 87%
• am sure = 85%
• am pretty sure = 80%
• am positive = 75%
• believe = 70%
• think = 65%
• feel like = 60%
• am guessing = 60%
• have no clue = 50%

Note that the percentages are not the probability of that thing being true; it is how sure I am of it being true. Unfortunately, there are some things which just aren't true even if I believe it with all my heart.