a tiny possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"a tiny possibility" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a remote or unlikely chance of something occurring. For example, "I'm clinging to a tiny possibility that I could still get the job I applied for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But if there is even a tiny possibility of reconsidering, I ask you to stick with me and give this week's post a chance.

The New York Times

So far, however, King Bhumibol seems to have made up his mind that Prince Vajiralongkorn will succeed him.Paul Handley, the king's unofficial biographer, whose book is banned in Thailand, thinks there is a tiny possibility that King Bhumibol could decide on his deathbed to disinherit Prince Vajiralongkorn.

The Economist

"If there's a tiny possibility we got the wrong person, it behooves us to know who shot that girl.

Huffington Post

The hope that there's a tiny possibility that he is still living, even as unjustified as it seems, keeps her alive today.

Huffington Post

Perhaps as part of some sort of political and economic union..?! I've heard there's a tiny possibility Brexit won't happen, if enough powerful people say it won't.

Vice

There might be a tiny possibility that the Dems could succeed and manage to walk away with what surely ought to be a safe GOP seat, but it simply isn't worth risking placing Roy Moore into the Senate for at least the next three years when the Democrats possess the power to stop him.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

If you talk to the players who most often play Ferneyhough, they all say that his notation has to be the way it is to achieve the results he wants in performance, even if there's a vanishingly tiny possibility of all that information being communicated to the listener.

The Guardian - Music

He wasn't anyone's favorite cup of tea in the first place, but Arnold Schwarzenegger's entry as a candidate effectively removed whatever tiny possibility Issa might have had in the general fracas.

Vice

And though what we've always been told will happen to them — that they'll come to a bad end — does seem to happen, some part of us wants to believe in the tiny possibility that they can get away with it.

The New Yorker

I have a degree in cultural studies and history and also took one year of a comedy program before dropping out because I wanted to have as much student debt as possible with the tiniest possibility of forming a plan to pay it back ($45,000 and...uh...get famous) so I know a little something about thriving in an academic scenario.

Vice

Tito: Firstly, I did not think there was even the tiniest possibility of this happening.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a tiny possibility" to acknowledge a chance, however unlikely, exists, preventing absolute dismissal of an idea or outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "a tiny possibility" when the actual likelihood is nonexistent. Reserve it for situations where there's genuinely some, however minimal, chance of occurrence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tiny possibility" functions as a noun phrase that serves as the object of a verb or follows a preposition, denoting a very low likelihood or chance. Ludwig AI validates that this phrase can be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tiny possibility" is a noun phrase used to express a minimal chance or likelihood of something occurring. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in written English, particularly in neutral to informal contexts such as news and general discourse. While more formal contexts may prefer alternatives such as "a small probability", it serves the purpose of acknowledging a chance, however unlikely, and preventing the outright dismissal of an idea or outcome. It's important to use it judiciously, ensuring that a genuine, albeit minimal, chance exists.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight chance

Replaces "possibility" with "chance" and "tiny" with "slight", softening the degree of possibility.

a remote possibility

Replaces "tiny" with "remote", emphasizing the unlikelihood of the event.

a slim chance

Uses "slim" instead of "tiny", suggesting a thin or narrow margin of possibility.

a small probability

Substitutes "possibility" with the more formal term "probability" and "tiny" with "small".

a faint hope

Replaces "possibility" with "hope", indicating a desire for something to happen despite the odds.

a glimmer of hope

Emphasizes a small, almost imperceptible, amount of hope.

a shadow of a chance

Highlights how insignificant or doubtful the chance really is.

a far-fetched possibility

Indicates the option is not only tiny but also unrealistic.

an outside chance

Suggests that the probability exists but not within the circle of normal expectations.

a long shot

Conveys the idea of taking a leap of faith, even when victory is very uncertain.

FAQs

How can I use "a tiny possibility" in a sentence?

You can use "a tiny possibility" to express that something is unlikely but still possible. For example: "There's "a tiny possibility" that the meeting will be canceled, but I wouldn't count on it."

What are some alternatives to "a tiny possibility"?

Alternatives to "a tiny possibility" include phrases like "a slight chance", "a remote possibility", or "a slim chance". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever appropriate to use "a tiny possibility" in formal writing?

Yes, "a tiny possibility" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly when acknowledging a low-probability scenario. However, using terms like "a small probability" may be preferred in highly technical or scientific contexts.

What's the difference between "a tiny possibility" and "no possibility"?

"A tiny possibility" suggests that there is some chance, however small, that something could occur. "No possibility" means there is absolutely no chance of it happening. They are contrasting statements of likelihood.