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surely

Surely is more common in British than American English.

Not the same as certainly​

Surely does not usually mean the same as certainly. We use certainly when we simply tell people that something is true. We use surely mostly to ask for people’s agreement: to persuade them that something must be true, or that there are good reasons for believing it. Compare:

  • House prices are certainly rising fast at the moment. (‘I know this is so.’)
    House prices will surely stop rising soon. (‘I believe this must be so.’)
  • I certainly transferred the money on Monday. (‘I know.’)
    She’s surely got the money by now. (‘It seems very probable.’)

Belief in spite of …​

Surely can be used when we say that we think something is true in spite of reasons to believe the opposite, or in spite of suggestions to the contrary. These sentences are often like questions.

  • ‘I’m going to marry Sonia.’ ‘Surely she’s married already?’
  • Surely that’s Henry over there? I thought he was in Scotland.
  • ‘Is it tonight we’re going out?’ ‘No, tomorrow, surely?’

With not, surely can express difficulty in believing something.

  • ‘Tim failed his exam.’ ‘Oh, surely not?’
  • Surely you’re not going out in that hat?
  • You don’t think I’m going to pay for you, surely?