cert
cert — noun
1. a person or thing that is so likely to succeed or happen that you feel completel
a person or thing that is so likely to succeed or happen that you feel completely sure about it — for example, a horse that seems certain to win a race, or a candidate who is guaranteed to get a job.
With her grades and confident interview, Aiko was a cert for the scholarship.
cert + for + noun phrase
The chestnut horse looked like a cert to finish first on the muddy track.
Everyone at the chess club said Ravi was a cert to win the county tournament.
Diego considered the promotion a cert after the CEO praised his project results.
The new café in the town centre was widely seen as a cert for success.
- sure thing
More common in American English; slightly less informal than 'cert'
- dead cert
Emphatic version of 'cert', used in the same British informal contexts
- certainty
More formal and neutral; works in both British and American English
- shoo-in
American English; describes a person certain to win an election or competition
- long shot
Something unlikely to succeed; the opposite of a cert
文法句型
cert + for + noun
cert + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in British informal speech. The phrase 'a dead cert' adds emphasis (‘That horse is a dead cert to win’).
常見錯誤
2. a short, informal way of saying 'certificate' — a document that officially prove
a short, informal way of saying 'certificate' — a document that officially proves someone has completed a course of study, passed a test, or has a particular qualification.
Priya kept her teaching cert framed on the wall of her study.
teaching cert
After six months of evening classes, Leila received her yoga instruction cert.
Yusuf needed to show his diving cert before the boat trip could begin.
Hana's nursing cert was the document that opened the door to her new career.
The job application asked for a copy of your teaching cert and a reference letter.
- certificate
The full, more formal term for any official document
- diploma
Usually refers to a higher-education or secondary-school completion document
- qualification
Broader term that includes skills and experience, not just paper documents
用法筆記
Common in British English conversational and workplace contexts. In formal writing, the full word 'certificate' is preferred. Not used in American English.
常見錯誤
cert — abbreviation
1. a written abbreviation used in official forms, job listings, and formal notices
a written abbreviation used in official forms, job listings, and formal notices to stand for 'certificate', 'certification', 'certified', or 'certify' — typically followed by a period in formal writing.
Please attach a copy of your degree cert. to the job application.
degree cert. (abbreviation with period)
Dr. Okafor signed the medical cert. allowing Amara to return to work.
The safety course ends with a cert. of completion for every trainee.
The company demands a valid professional cert. from an accredited body.
Kofi attached his teaching cert. to the visa application as proof of employment.
- credential
More formal; refers broadly to any proof of qualification
- diploma
More specific to academic completion documents
用法筆記
Widely used in both British and American written English, especially on forms, application portals, and administrative documents. The period is standard in US English but often omitted in UK headings.