apt, liable, likely

apt, liable, likely
Distinctions in the meanings of these words have broken down somewhat, but careful speakers continue to observe them. Apt suggests fitness or tendency: "Jake is apt in physics." Liable implies exposure to something unwanted, disadvantageous, or burdensome: "The driver is liable for damages." Likely means "expected," "probable": "It is likely to rain today." Likely is the most commonly used of the three words; apt and likely are near-synonyms; use liable only in the sense of "responsible," "answerable."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • liable, likely, apt, prone —    All four indicate probability, but they carry distinctions worth noting. Apt is better reserved for general probabilities ( It is apt to snow in January ) and likely for specific ones ( It is likely to snow today ). Liable and prone are better …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • liable, likely, apt, prone —    All four indicate probability, but they carry distinctions worth noting. Apt is better reserved for general probabilities ( It is apt to snow in January ) and likely for specific ones ( It is likely to snow today ). Liable and prone are better …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • liable, likely, apt, prone —    All four indicate probability, but they carry distinctions worth noting. Apt is better reserved for general probabilities ( It is apt to snow in January ) and likely for specific ones ( It is likely to snow today ). Liable and prone are better …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • likely — See apt. See apt, liable, likely …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • apt — See apt, liable, likely …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • liable — See apt, liable, likely …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • apt — apt, liable, prone 1. Used with to, prone is by far the most common statistically, liable comes second, and apt, perhaps surprisingly, trails in third place. 2. Apt to and liable to, followed by an infinitive, are virtually interchangeable,… …   Modern English usage

  • liable — apt, liable, prone 1. Used with to, prone is by far the most common statistically, liable comes second, and apt, perhaps surprisingly, trails in third place. 2. Apt to and liable to, followed by an infinitive, are virtually interchangeable,… …   Modern English usage

  • likely — 1. As an adverb, likely needs the support of a qualifying or intensifying word such as more, quite, or very (They ve quite likely left by now / It s more likely a toadstool), whereas in AmE it often stands alone: • It is possible to predict that… …   Modern English usage

  • apt — [adj1] suitable applicable, apposite, appropriate, apropos, befitting, correct, felicitous, fit, fitting, germane, happy, just, pertinent, proper, relevant, seemly, suitable, timely; concept 558 Ant. incorrect, unsuitable apt [adj2] tending,… …   New thesaurus

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