a significant risk of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant risk of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing potential dangers or negative outcomes associated with a particular situation or action. Example: "There is a significant risk of data breaches if proper security measures are not implemented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Federal Reserve is now saying there's a significant risk of a downturn.

The New York Times

He ruled that Mr. Giacchetto presented a significant risk of flight and revoked his bail.

The New York Times

The current level is at yellow, meaning there is a significant risk of a terror attack.

The New York Times

"There is a significant risk of a rerun of the Reagan years here".

The New York Times

"There's a significant risk of crying wolf," one of the president's top security advisers concedes.

The New York Times

That circumstance alone presents a significant risk of irreparable harm to plaintiff.

The New York Times

Going there with current technology would carry a significant risk of harmful radiation exposure.

The Guardian

Directly injecting the drug Phenergan into a patient's vein creates a significant risk of catastrophic consequences.

Cornell University

However, surgery poses a significant risk of morbidity and death in patients > 65 years of age.

Stanford University

Either response carries a significant risk of rendering the institution vulnerable to a charge of discrimination.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

That, too, presents a significant risk of failure, the analysis said.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a significant risk of", ensure you clearly articulate the potential negative consequences that could arise from the risk. Providing context helps the reader understand the severity and implications.

Common error

Avoid using "a significant risk of" when the actual risk is minimal or unsubstantiated. Overstating the risk can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant risk of" functions as a noun phrase modifier. It typically precedes a noun or noun phrase, specifying that the noun or event has a notable potential for negative consequences. This is evident in Ludwig examples where it describes potential downturns, terror attacks or irreducible harm.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant risk of" is a versatile phrase used to highlight the potential for negative outcomes across various domains. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is grammatically correct and very common, predominantly appearing in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While alternatives like "a considerable risk of" or "a substantial risk of" offer subtle variations, the core meaning remains consistent. Ensure clear articulation of potential consequences and avoid overstating the risk to maintain credibility. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability in a wide array of writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable risk of

Replaces "significant" with "considerable", indicating a notable level of risk.

a substantial risk of

Substitutes "significant" with "substantial", highlighting the magnitude of the risk.

a heightened risk of

Emphasizes the elevated nature of the risk by using "heightened".

a high probability of

Shifts from "risk" to "probability", focusing on the likelihood of an event.

a marked risk of

Uses "marked" to indicate that the risk is easily noticeable or distinct.

a notable chance of

Replaces "risk" with "chance" and "significant" with "notable", suggesting a noteworthy possibility.

an elevated likelihood of

Combines the concepts of "heightened" probability, indicating an increase in likelihood.

a serious threat of

Changes "risk" to "threat", emphasizing the potential harm or danger.

a major danger of

Replaces "risk" with "danger" and "significant" with "major", stressing the severity of the potential negative outcome.

a prominent risk of

Substitutes "significant" with "prominent", emphasizing the visibility or obviousness of the risk.

FAQs

How can I use "a significant risk of" in a sentence?

Use "a significant risk of" to highlight a considerable possibility of an undesirable outcome. For example, "There is "a significant risk of" project delays if funding is not secured promptly."

What are some alternatives to "a significant risk of"?

You can use alternatives such as "a considerable risk of", "a substantial risk of", or "a high probability of" to convey a similar meaning with slightly different emphasis.

Is it better to say "a significant risk of" or "a major risk of"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but ""a significant risk of"" generally implies a notable or considerable risk, while "a major risk of" suggests a more severe or critical risk. Choose the phrase that best reflects the degree of risk you are describing.

What is the difference between "risk of" and "chance of"?

"Risk of" typically refers to the possibility of a negative outcome, while "chance of" can refer to any outcome, positive or negative. However, in many contexts, they can be used interchangeably to describe the likelihood of something happening. Consider, though, that you can use phrases like "a notable chance of" for a slight change in tone.