a poor chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a poor chance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the likelihood of success or a favorable outcome is low. Example: "Given the current circumstances, we have a poor chance of winning the contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Any Libyan with a black skin accused of fighting for the old regime may have a poor chance of survival.

Independent

The daughters of such families have a poor chance of getting a decent education.Special report Looking to Europe Which Turkey?

The Economist

Presumably such attempts to explain things away would have a poor chance of survival if everyone ran around with skin rashes scratching themselves and fashion shoots and business meetings were accompanied by incessant scratching.

The Guardian - Opinion

North-South had missed their five-three spade fit, in which a slam had no chance as it happened, and landed in a five-two club fit that had a poor chance.

The New York Times - Arts

Those with the most severe form have a poor chance of surviving.

BBC

We also wanted to identify factors that predicted a poor chance of successful lumpectomy, to avoid multiple lumpectomy attempts in a patient who would ultimately require mastectomy.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

But a smoker who had to stop therapy to recover from side effects had a poorer chance of survival than a nonsmoker.

The New York Times

Previous research has found single men have a poorer chance of surviving several types of cancer, including prostate and head and neck cancer.

BBC

The presence of lung disease and the use of a mismatched unrelated donor did correlate with a poorer chance of survival.

British Journal of Haematology

In a study on LBP in an occupational setting, patients with a previous duration of more than 30 days also had a poorer chance of long-term recovery [ 33], using zero days of pain as a measure of recovery.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

In particular, there is no reason to expect that surgeons would be more likely to operate on patients with a poorer chance of responding to surgery if they had normal as compared with abnormal median nerve conduction.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a poor chance", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject has a low probability of achieving. For instance, "Due to the strong competition, the startup has "a poor chance" of securing funding."

Common error

Avoid limiting "poor" to strictly economic contexts. While it can relate to financial situations, it more broadly indicates a low quality or probability. For example, saying "The experiment has "a poor chance" of succeeding because of design flaws" correctly uses 'poor' to describe quality, not finances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a poor chance" functions as a noun phrase, where "poor" modifies the noun "chance". It indicates a low probability or likelihood of a specific outcome. Ludwig provides numerous examples across varied sources confirming its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a poor chance" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase expressing a low likelihood of success. Ludwig AI confirms this, providing a multitude of examples from diverse sources, especially in science, news, and formal business contexts. While "poor" can sometimes be misinterpreted as strictly economic, it generally indicates a low quality or probability of something. Alternatives like "a slim chance" or "little hope" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slim chance

Emphasizes the smallness of the probability.

a low probability

Focuses on the statistical likelihood of something occurring.

little hope

Highlights the lack of optimism associated with the situation.

a small likelihood

Similar to 'low probability' but uses 'likelihood'.

a slight possibility

Suggests a remote chance of something happening.

a reduced prospect

Focuses on the diminished outlook for success.

a minimal opportunity

Highlights the limited availability of a favorable outcome.

a bad omen

Suggests something unfavorable will happen.

a difficult prospect

Focuses on the challenge associated with a particular future event.

an unpromising outlook

Highlights that the future does not look positive.

FAQs

How can I use "a poor chance" in a sentence?

You can use "a poor chance" to describe situations where success is unlikely. For example, "With the current market conditions, the company has "a poor chance" of increasing its profits this quarter."

What are some alternatives to "a poor chance"?

You can use alternatives like "a slim chance", "a low probability", or "little hope" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a poor chance"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. "Poor" is used as an adjective to describe the quality or likelihood of the "chance", indicating it is not favorable.

What's the difference between "a poor chance" and "a small chance"?

"A poor chance" emphasizes the unfavorable nature of the situation, suggesting a lack of positive factors, while "a small chance" focuses on the low probability of success. They are similar, but "a poor chance" can carry a slightly more negative connotation.