a question of chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a question of chance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations or outcomes that are determined by luck or probability rather than by skill or intention. Example: "Winning the lottery is often just a question of chance, as the odds are heavily stacked against you."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Her roles, she said, were more a question of chance than choice.

The New York Times - Arts

Dr. Stöhr said, "We knew that civet cats posed a public health risk because SARS coronavirus was repeatedly isolated from these animals most of last year, and it was only a question of chance and time before a case occurred".

The New York Times - Health

Survey results from the baseline survey of firms find many firms giving responses that make it seem like they have difficulty matching: 60percentt say they find it difficult to distinguish between good and bad workers; 35percentt say hiring a new young worker is more a question of chance than skill; and 39percentt agree or strongly agree that it is difficult to find qualified employees.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

(No matter whether you are a dove or a hawk, your biological success is just a question of chance).

Biology Direct

With respect to the concept of near miss, it is understood that in the cases that survive a potentially fatal complication during pregnancy, delivery or during the puerperium, this favorable outcome is a question of chance or of the implementation of good hospital care.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It's just a question of someone taking a chance on him.

BBC

3.39pm: A question of giving unskilled workers a chance to get skills.

The Guardian

After that, it's a question of math to maximise the chance of having a hit.

TechCrunch

"It's a question of diminishing returns, and the chances of mishaps go up," said David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

The New York Times

The relationship between God's foreknowledge and the souls being in time is one that introduces the question of chance and hazard, and that involves both God and the soul.

Yale University

Step back and the larger patterns appeared: Freedom and Chance were a question of distance, a point of view.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a question of chance", ensure the context clearly indicates that the outcome is not determined by skill or direct influence, but rather by unpredictable factors. For example, instead of saying "Success is a question of chance", consider "In this field, success is often a question of chance due to unpredictable market trends".

Common error

Avoid using "a question of chance" when the outcome is clearly influenced by skill, effort, or strategy. For example, do not say "Winning the competition was a question of chance" if rigorous training and strategic planning were involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a question of chance" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a predicate nominative or an appositive. It describes situations where outcomes are determined by unpredictable or random factors, as illustrated in Ludwig's examples where success is linked to chance occurrences.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a question of chance" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe situations dictated by luck or randomness rather than skill or intention. As indicated by Ludwig, while grammatically correct, its usage frequency is rare. It is most commonly found in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly reflects the influence of unpredictable factors. Alternatives like "a matter of luck" or "an element of randomness" may provide nuanced variations depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a game of chance

Directly states that the outcome is based on chance rather than skill.

a matter of luck

Replaces "chance" with "luck", emphasizing the role of fortune.

an element of randomness

Highlights the unpredictable aspect of the situation.

subject to fate

Emphasizes destiny's influence.

dependent on probability

Focuses on the statistical likelihood of an event.

governed by fortune

Highlights the control of luck over the outcome.

a gamble

Implies taking a risk with an uncertain outcome.

a lottery

Suggests that the result is determined by random selection.

a flip of a coin

Highlights the equal probability of two outcomes.

left to hazard

Emphasizes the uncertainty and potential danger involved.

FAQs

How can I use "a question of chance" in a sentence?

You can use "a question of chance" to describe situations where the outcome depends on luck or randomness. For example, "Whether the experiment succeeds is "a question of chance", as many uncontrollable variables are involved."

What can I say instead of "a question of chance"?

You can use alternatives like "a matter of luck", "an element of randomness", or "subject to fate" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "a question of chance" in formal writing?

Yes, "a question of chance" is generally appropriate for formal writing, especially when discussing probability or uncertain outcomes. However, consider alternatives like "dependent on probability" for a more technical tone.

What is the difference between "a question of chance" and "a question of skill"?

"A question of chance" implies that the outcome is determined by luck, while "a question of skill" suggests that ability and expertise are the deciding factors. For example, winning the lottery is ""a question of chance"", while performing surgery successfully is "a question of skill".