a slight chance

USAGE SUMMARY

"a slight chance" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a small chance that something may or may not happen. For example: "There is a slight chance that the rain will let up by the end of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Just a slight chance of afternoon showers.

Cornell University

There is a slight chance of lingering scattered showers.

Cornell University

There is a slight chance of showers in southern areas.

Cornell University

There was a slight chance of maybe a shower.

The New York Times - Sports

(There's a slight chance of thunderstorms on Saturday).

The New York Times

Very clever, with a slight chance of learning physics.

The New Yorker

Only a slight chance of thundershowers was in the forecast.

The New York Times - Sports

The Americans thought they had a slight chance to win.

The New York Times - Sports

Tuesday will be in the 70's with a slight chance of showers.

Cornell University

If it won't help, even a slight chance of harm argues against taking a multivitamin.

Harvard University

Wednesday temperatures will be in the 80's, with a slight chance of showers.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a slight chance" when you want to acknowledge a possibility, however small, without creating undue optimism. It's appropriate when tempering expectations or offering a balanced perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight chance" when the probability is actually higher. This can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility. If there is "a reasonable chance", be more forthright.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight chance" functions as a noun phrase that modifies another noun, usually indicating a probability or possibility. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a correct and usable phrase in written English, typically used to express a low degree of likelihood.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slight chance" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to denote a low probability of an event occurring. As Ludwig confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase, commonly found in news, academic, and general contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context accurately reflects a genuinely low likelihood to avoid misleading your audience. Alternatives such as "a minimal possibility" or "a slim chance" can be used for stylistic variation. Be careful not to overuse the expression if there is indeed more than "a slight chance" of something happening, in that case use "a reasonable chance".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minimal possibility

Emphasizes the extremely low level of possibility.

a remote possibility

Indicates that the possibility is far-fetched or unlikely.

a slim possibility

Similar to "slight", implying a thin or narrow chance.

a negligible chance

Suggests the chance is so small it's almost not worth considering.

a faint hope

Shifts focus to hope, but still indicates a low probability of success.

a remote prospect

Highlights the unlikelihood of the event occurring in the future.

a small likelihood

Replaces "chance" with "likelihood", maintaining a low probability.

a distant possibility

Indicates the possibility is far off or unlikely to materialize.

a negligible prospect

Suggests the prospect is so small it's almost not worth considering.

a long shot

An idiomatic expression for a low probability event.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slight chance" to indicate a low probability of something happening. For example, "There is "a slight chance" of rain tomorrow", or "The doctor said there's "a slight chance" the treatment will work".

What's the difference between "a slight chance" and "a good chance"?

"A slight chance" indicates a low probability, while "a good chance" suggests a higher probability of something occurring. The choice depends on the level of certainty you want to convey.

What are some alternatives to "a slight chance"?

Alternatives include "a minimal possibility", "a slim chance", "a remote possibility", or "a negligible chance", each conveying a similar sense of low probability.

Is it correct to say "there is a slight chance of" something?

Yes, the phrase "there is "a slight chance" of" something is grammatically correct and commonly used to express that something has a low probability of happening.