a degree of instability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a degree of instability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a certain level or extent of instability in various contexts, such as economics, psychology, or engineering. Example: "The recent changes in the market have led to a degree of instability that investors need to be aware of."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The three separatist regions already cause a degree of instability.

The New York Times

A degree of instability in politics also puts a premium on civil servants, like Heywood, who can offer the opposite.

The Guardian

Inevitably that brings a degree of instability that Souness, correctly, identified as one of the club's biggest handicaps.

The Guardian - Sport

This suggests a degree of instability in Buenos Aires that was much more extreme than in Chicago.

Latin American Economic Review

Google regularly tweaks the algorithms it uses to index online life and, as a result, may be sampling very different things month to month, adding a degree of instability - spots of dirt as it were - to that dataset.

BBC

"A consequent loss of traction caused a degree of instability, spitting it back towards the inside of the circuit, where it regained traction and struck the wall side-on".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

This subset of clinically localized, treatment-naive prostate cancers display a degree of genomic instability previously thought only to occur in late stage, metastatic tumors.

eLife

That study, performed by monitoring Ca2+ dynamics in thousands of CA1 cells over weeks through a miniature head-mounted microscope, revealed a remarkable degree of instability in the coding of space: only 25% of cells with place fields at one recording session exhibited the same properties 5 days later.

eLife

The present method is believed to be applicable to any self-excited system having a large degree of instability that is not removable by an ordinary time-delayed feedback.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

This causes a high degree of instability in the world economy, disrupting economic activity and the lives of people who depend on it.

The Guardian

The Netanyahu government suffers from a troubling degree of instability, thanks to its far-right coalition partners (including its bigoted foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman) and its ineptitude.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a degree of instability", consider quantifying the degree if possible for clarity. For example, instead of just stating there is "a degree of instability", specify if it's "a high degree" or "a slight degree".

Common error

Avoid using "a degree of instability" as a filler phrase without specifying what is unstable and why. Ensure the instability is clearly linked to a specific subject or situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a degree of instability" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable. For example, "This suggests a degree of instability in Buenos Aires..."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a degree of instability" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for describing conditions that are neither fully stable nor entirely chaotic. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. As seen in examples from Ludwig, its usage spans across news media, scientific research, and general discussions. The phrase serves to communicate uncertainty or a potential for change, making it a versatile tool in describing various complex situations, particularly in politics, economics, and science. Remember to quantify this instability for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some level of unsteadiness

Replaces "degree of instability" with synonyms conveying a general lack of stability.

a touch of turbulence

Uses a more metaphorical term, "turbulence", to suggest mild instability.

slight disequilibrium

Indicates a minor imbalance or lack of equilibrium.

a fragile state

Implies a delicate condition easily disrupted, synonymous with instability.

a certain measure of precariousness

Emphasizes the uncertain or risky aspect of instability.

a hint of volatility

Focuses on the potential for rapid and unpredictable changes related to instability.

moderate disruption

Highlights the disruptive effects resulting from instability.

some susceptibility to change

Indicates a vulnerability to being altered or destabilized.

partial uncertainty

Emphasizes the lack of predictability associated with unstable situations.

limited reliability

Focuses on the unreliable or inconsistent nature of something due to instability.

FAQs

How can I use "a degree of instability" in a sentence?

You can use "a degree of instability" to describe situations where something is not completely stable, but not entirely chaotic either. For example, "The country experienced "a degree of instability" following the election results".

What phrases are similar to "a degree of instability"?

Alternatives include "some level of unsteadiness", "a touch of turbulence", or "slight disequilibrium", depending on the context.

Is it better to quantify the degree of instability when using the phrase?

Quantifying the instability can provide greater clarity. Instead of saying just "a degree", consider using phrases like "a high degree of instability" or "a low degree of instability".

In what contexts is "a degree of instability" commonly used?

This phrase is frequently used in contexts relating to politics, economics, and science, particularly when discussing systems or situations that are not entirely stable but haven't reached a state of crisis.