to a certain extent vs to certain extent

Both "to a certain extent" and "to certain extent" are correct, but "to a certain extent" is the more commonly used and idiomatic phrase in English. It is important to include the article "a" before "certain extent" to convey the intended meaning clearly.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 3212 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"to a certain extent"

This phrase is used to indicate that something is true or valid only up to a limited point or degree.

Examples:

I agree with you to a certain extent, but I also have some reservations.
His theory is correct to a certain extent, but it doesn't explain all the observations.
To a certain extent, we can control the outcome of the project.
She was right to a certain extent about the issue.
The success of the plan depends to a certain extent on external factors.

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Structures are therefore made to a certain extent part of their environment.
Undeniably it does, at least to a certain extent.
Yes, to a certain extent.
We're all guessing in the dark to a certain extent.
Later on, this movement was dominated to a certain extent by the Marxist ideology against which Rerum novarum had spoken.
The imports from Norway followed to a certain extent a development similar to that of the CI, significantly decreasing in volume and market share.
Just like I do to a certain extent.
The exchange of knowledge, including to a certain extent standardisation thereof, is important.
Models of circular and virtual migration can address, to a certain extent, the shortfalls of unchecked emigration.
Unfortunately, however, this will also come into play to a certain extent.
Even I believe that it is true to a certain extent.
And to a certain extent, it does this.
All of this is of course very straight-forward, but to a certain extent misleading.
SALAMON: I think that, to a certain extent, Scarface was about the film industry.
I mean, to a certain extent, yes.
The diplomacy worked to a certain extent, at least in Ulster, where the Scots had some support.
And there are of course bands like Opeth, Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree, even to a certain extent Dream Theater early in my progressive music career.
All of the biology news appeared in the newspaper El País on the indicated date and they are, to a certain extent, about current topics.
In the few following paragraphs we shall have to draw attention to the fact that these same sources, to a certain extent, supplement the Scriptural doctrine.
This was the spirit governing all initiatory rites used in the ancient Mystery schools, and to a certain extent this is so even among ourselves today.

Alternatives:

to some extent
partially
in part
to a degree
to a limited extent

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in English.

"to certain extent"

This phrase is also used to indicate that something is true or valid only up to a limited point or degree.

Examples:

I agree with you to certain extent, but I also have some reservations.
His theory is correct to certain extent, but it doesn't explain all the observations.
To certain extent, we can control the outcome of the project.
She was right to certain extent about the issue.
The success of the plan depends to certain extent on external factors.

Show examples from the web [+]

And to certain extent it is, but I want to stress a couple of points.
We have looked at it not only from a budgetary perspective, but also, to certain extent, with regard to its content and we have raised one concern, which Mrs Van Brempt was kind enough to include.
However, while it has been established that the situation of the users industry deteriorated to certain extent in 2011, the link between the decline and the existence of the measures was not demonstrated, especially given that the measures were in places since 2000.
We're all guessing in the dark to a certain extent.
Artists are also disliked to a certain extent in society and fight to find ways to express themselves.
However, a cop can only get involved to a certain extent.
I stopped valuing them to a certain extent.
- So it works to a certain extent.
I had that condition, to a certain extent, from my own childhood illness.
We are all to a certain extent affected by our surroundings.
They were already applied and to a certain extent implemented in the period 2000-2006.
To a certain extent these measures helped the banks to continue their normal activities.
To a certain extent, the prices on the Community market will also rise.
To a certain extent, maybe you were strangers.
Your rapporteur agrees, but just to a certain extent.
To a certain extent our strategy proved to be right.
However, two points have been raised which to a certain extent are still to be clarified.
I therefore understand, to a certain extent, the problem raised.
To a certain extent, this results from a lack of effective mechanisms of control and supervision.
To a certain extent, you have made contradictory demands.

Alternatives:

to a certain extent
to some extent
partially
in part
to a degree

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to a certain extent vs to certain extent