Are You Certainly Confident About That?

I Am 100% Certain That I Am 0% Confident In What I Am Saying

When someone uses the word “certain” or “confident” it indicates they are thinking about other possibilities. After careful consideration, they then conclude they are convinced [this] is what happened or will happen.

If a person is certain or confident of something, they won’t use the word “certain” or “confident.” Someone who has done nothing wrong probably would not contemplate being found guilty.

In November 2016, the FBI announced it was reopening the email investigation on Hillary Clinton, as it was reported 650,000 new emails were discovered. In her press conference regarding this new revelation, Clinton said, “I’m confident, whatever they are [new emails], will not change the conclusion reached in July.”

A more credible sentence would have been, “The new emails will not change the conclusion reached in July.” Even better, would have been a statement that addressed the alleged wrong-doing, not the conclusion.

Also from the Casey Anthony March 7, 2017 AP interview: “Discussing Caylee’s last moments, the 30-year-old Anthony spoke in halting, sober tones: ‘I’m still not even certain as I stand here today about what happened,’ she said.”