a viable candidate

USAGE SUMMARY

It is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea that someone is a candidate who has a good chance of success if chosen for the job or position. For example, "The interviewer thought that John was a viable candidate for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now, suddenly, he is a viable candidate.

The New York Times

Here I am, a viable candidate.

The New York Times

But he is not a viable candidate.

The New York Times

We need a viable candidate to do that".

The New York Times

Is ex-speaker of parliament Arseniy Yatsenyuk a viable candidate?

The Guardian - Opinion

• The larger point was that Vincent was a viable candidate.

The New York Times - Sports

Are they a viable candidate for regional superpower?

The New Yorker

A triumphant Mr Wallace told reporters, "I'm a viable candidate.

The Economist

Taken together, the serotonin system is a viable candidate.

Brain Research

"Created to take votes from Ron Paul" implies that Ron Paul was a viable candidate – hardly.

University of California, Berkeley

It was revealed that this material is a viable candidate as a rejuvenator.

Construction and Building Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "a viable candidate", be specific about the qualities or achievements that make them so. Provide concrete examples to support your assessment.

Common error

Avoid simply labeling someone "a viable candidate" without providing supporting evidence. Back up your claim with specific skills, experience, or qualities that demonstrate their suitability for the role.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a viable candidate" functions as a noun phrase, where "viable" modifies the noun "candidate". Ludwig examples show it commonly appears in political, professional, and scientific contexts to describe someone or something considered suitable and with a good chance of success.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

22%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a viable candidate" is a common phrase used to describe someone or something that is considered suitable and has a good chance of success. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news, scientific and academic contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to provide specific reasons why the candidate is considered viable. Alternatives such as "a valuable candidate", "a suitable candidate", or "a credible candidate" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a valuable candidate

Focuses on the worth or benefit the candidate brings.

a solid candidate

Emphasizes the candidate's strong and reliable qualities.

a valid candidate

Highlights the legitimacy and appropriateness of the candidate.

a suitable candidate

Indicates that the candidate is well-matched for the position or role.

a credible candidate

Stresses the candidate's trustworthiness and believability.

a real candidate

Suggests the candidate is genuine and serious about pursuing the position.

a realistic candidate

Focuses on the candidate's practical chances of success.

a promising candidate

Highlights the candidate's potential for future success.

a potential candidate

Focuses on the candidate's inherent abilities and capacity.

an eligible candidate

Indicates the candidate meets the required qualifications.

FAQs

How to use "a viable candidate" in a sentence?

Use "a viable candidate" to describe someone or something that has a good chance of success or being chosen. For example: "After the debate, she emerged as "a viable candidate" for the nomination."

What can I say instead of "a viable candidate"?

You can use alternatives like "a valuable candidate", "a suitable candidate", or "a credible candidate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a viable candidate" or "an viable candidate"?

"A viable candidate" is correct. "Viable" begins with a consonant sound, so it takes the indefinite article "a" rather than "an".

What makes someone "a viable candidate"?

Being "a viable candidate" implies that the person or option possesses the necessary qualifications, skills, and attributes to be seriously considered for a position, role, or opportunity.