English UsageGrammar guide

Sure Of: Standard Pattern

Sure Of: Standard Pattern records a directly documented English construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than turning one attested complement into a universal prohibition.

Quick answer

Use “sure of” when expressing confidence or certainty about something, including confidence that an outcome will occur.

Key details

Confusion Familyusage-construction
Rule Familyadjective or complement construction
Termssure of

Further guidance

Construction

Use “sure of” when expressing confidence or certainty about something, including confidence that an outcome will occur.

Style Boundary

Cambridge documents “sure of/about” and specific “sure of” uses; this page records the evidenced construction without claiming that “of” is the only complement available with “sure.”

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. SURE | English meaning — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct dictionary evidence for “sure of” and the documented “sure of/about” boundary.

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