a small likelihood that

USAGE SUMMARY

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

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In addition, he is 80 years old, so prosecutors may have concluded that there was little upside to a guilty plea when there was only a small likelihood that a person of his stature and professional background would receive a prison sentence.

The New York Times

There is only a small likelihood that any human being could actually deliver a performance commensurate with those expectations.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Within these groupings, there will be less variation in quality and consequently a smaller likelihood that the results are simply picking up this correlation.

Agricultural and Food Economics

MA: When you say that you think it's a very small likelihood that Microsoft would walk away from the offer, do you base that on psychology, just signals that you've seen from the market and comparing that to your experience from the past…or do you see that as an analysis of Microsoft's business and seeing that like, "Look, they really need this," or is it both, or is it neither.

TechCrunch

There is only a very small likelihood that these would go through, for example, in Finland and in the Netherlands.

Huffington Post

A review in the New York Post read: "Given the vanishingly small likelihood that an established criminal's promise to go straight at any given moment should be taken seriously, the film doesn't push the idea of incipient redemption too much.

The Guardian - Film

She expected a sentence that would reflect the small likelihood that Carter would repeat her actions.

Huffington Post

No known prokaryote has phagocytosis, and suggestions along the line of one prokaryote "slipping into" a second through a physically-induced rip of the second's cell membrane would be much too rare (even ignoring the small likelihood that the second prokaryote could survive so large a membrane rip) to fix variations making internalization less deleterious.

Biology Direct

Because there is exceedingly small likelihood that retroposons would be precisely excised or independently inserted into exactly the same orthologous site in different lineages, a retroposon insertion is a unique, powerful, nearly homoplasy-free phylogenetic molecular marker (Shedlock and Okada 2000).

Genome Biology and Evolution

There is only a small likelihood (1%) that pemetrexed would have lower cost and less benefits than docetaxel, whilst there is an 8% probability that pemetrexed would have additional cost and less benefit (top left hand quadrant of the plot).

BMC Cancer

If you are a Portuguese saver with money in the bank, even if there is a small likelihood of losing that money, it would make perfect sense to move euro deposits while you can to a safer haven, like the Netherlands and Germany.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small likelihood that", ensure the context clearly indicates the event is unlikely but still possible. For instance, "There is "a small likelihood that" the project will be delayed, but we are taking all necessary precautions to prevent it."

Common error

Avoid using "a small likelihood that" when the event is virtually impossible. This phrase suggests a possibility, however minimal, exists. If the event is impossible, use phrases like "no chance" or "completely ruled out".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small likelihood that" functions as a qualifier, modifying a statement to indicate a low degree of probability or possibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small likelihood that" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to convey a low degree of probability. Ludwig AI verifies that this phrase is correct and usable in diverse contexts. It finds its primary application in news, scientific, and formal settings. While alternatives exist, such as "a slight chance that" or "a low probability that", the choice depends on the context and desired emphasis. When using this phrase, it is crucial to ensure that the situation genuinely reflects a low probability, not an impossibility, to avoid misleading the audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight possibility that

Replaces "likelihood" with "possibility" and "small" with "slight", indicating a minor chance.

a remote chance that

Uses "remote chance" instead of "small likelihood", emphasizing the unlikelihood.

a slim chance that

Replaces "small likelihood" with "slim chance", conveying a similar sense of minimal probability.

a low probability that

Substitutes "likelihood" with "probability" and "small" with "low", maintaining a similar meaning.

a minimal risk that

Replaces "likelihood" with "risk" and "small" with "minimal", focusing on the potential negative outcome.

a negligible possibility that

Emphasizes the insignificance of the possibility.

a faint hope that

Emphasizes the weakness or slightness of the hope.

little prospect that

Shifts the focus to the lack of favorable outlook.

a shadow of a chance that

Emphasizes the insignificance of the possibility.

an outside chance that

Implies the possibility exists but is improbable.

FAQs

How can I use "a small likelihood that" in a sentence?

Use "a small likelihood that" to express a minimal possibility of something happening. For example, "There is "a small likelihood that" the meeting will be canceled, but it's best to be prepared."

What are some alternatives to "a small likelihood that"?

You can use alternatives like "a slight chance that", "a low probability that", or "a slim chance that" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "a small likelihood that" or "a low likelihood that"?

Both "a small likelihood that" and "a low likelihood that" are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific context.

What's the difference between "a small likelihood that" and "a strong likelihood that"?

"A small likelihood that" indicates something is unlikely to happen, while "a strong likelihood that" suggests something is very likely to occur. They are opposites in meaning.