a slight likelihood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slight likelihood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the probability or chance of something happening, indicating that the chance is minimal. Example: "There is a slight likelihood that it will rain tomorrow, so you might want to bring an umbrella just in case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Polls have been tight or have shown, on occasion, a slight likelihood that Britain could leave the EU.

Los Angeles Times

There is a slight likelihood that increased attention to the diagnosis for this form of cancer in the vicinity of the plant could have introduced a small bias in the risk estimate.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The cost saving was reduced from $50 to $18 in the model that included just the direct cost of false positives ($1,248 vs. $1,230), and to $17 in the model that included both costs of false positives and a slight increase in likelihood of mammography in subsequent cycles after a false positive.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

There was never the slightest likelihood of Rangers sustaining damage of any kind in this penultimate match of a gruelling season.

The Guardian - Sport

"I don't think there's the slightest likelihood that Colin Powell would want to become president of the World Bank after putting up with everything he's put up with as secretary of state," Mr. Wolfensohn said in an interview.

The New York Times

Among highly educated men there is a slight decrease in the likelihood of medication use as income adequacy decreases, whereas among men with a low educational level there is a slight increase in the chances of medication use with a reduction in income adequacy.

BMC Women's Health

For simplicity, we use the same known LOD L for both x i and y i in the derivation below, but differences in the LODs for x i and y i (e.g., because of differences in laboratory procedures) can be incorporated with a slight modification of the likelihood function.

Environmental Health Perspectives

A slight increase in the likelihood of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer.

WikiHow

A slight increase in the likelihood of strokes or blood clots.

WikiHow

The mean perceived likelihood showed a slight increasing trend.

BMC Infectious Diseases

We found that the support for a given number of clusters increased steeply up to K=3, with a slight further increase of the likelihood up to K=5.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a slight likelihood" when you want to acknowledge a possibility, but emphasize that it is improbable. It's useful in scenarios where you need to be realistic but not entirely dismissive.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight likelihood" when the event is highly probable. This phrase should be reserved for situations where the chance of something happening is genuinely small; otherwise, it can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight likelihood" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in conveying the possibility, however minimal, of an event occurring.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slight likelihood" is a phrase used to express a minimal chance or probability of something happening. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. While grammatically sound, it is relatively uncommon. The phrase is versatile, appearing in news, scientific, and general contexts. Alternatives such as "a slim chance" or "a remote possibility" can be used for variety. When using the phrase, ensure that the probability you are describing is genuinely low to avoid misleading your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a remote possibility

Replaces "likelihood" with "possibility" and uses "remote" to emphasize the low probability.

a slim chance

Substitutes "likelihood" with "chance" and "slight" with "slim", both suggesting a minimal probability.

a small probability

Uses the more formal term "probability" instead of "likelihood", maintaining a similar meaning.

a marginal prospect

Replaces "likelihood" with "prospect" and "slight" with "marginal", indicating a minimal outlook.

a negligible chance

Emphasizes the insignificance of the chance by using the word "negligible".

a faint hope

Conveys a sense of wishful thinking despite the low probability.

a minimal risk

Frames the likelihood in terms of potential risk, suggesting the risk is very low.

a low expectation

Focuses on the anticipation of something happening, with the expectation being low.

a shadow of a chance

Expresses a very small chance, almost to the point of being nonexistent.

little prospect

Simple and direct way of saying that there is not much expectation that something will happen.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slight likelihood" to indicate a small chance of something happening. For example, "There is "a slight likelihood" that the meeting will be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances."

What is a more formal way to say "a slight likelihood"?

A more formal alternative to "a slight likelihood" is "a low probability" or "a minimal prospect". These phrases are suitable for academic or professional writing.

Is it better to say "a slight likelihood" or "a small possibility"?

Both "a slight likelihood" and "a small possibility" are similar in meaning and can be used interchangeably. The choice depends on the context and personal preference. However, possibility might suggest a less formal tone.

When should I not use the phrase "a slight likelihood"?

Avoid using "a slight likelihood" when the probability of an event is significant or almost certain. It's best reserved for situations where the chance is genuinely small and you want to temper expectations.