afford a prospect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "afford a prospect" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express that something provides an opportunity or possibility for future success or development. Example: "The new investment strategy is expected to afford a prospect for significant growth in the coming years."

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Further development of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells afford a good prospect of realizing the electrochemical compression on a competitive basis.

Journal of Power Sources

The Crown Prosecution Service later decided not to bring charges due to "insufficient evidence to afford a realistic prospect of conviction".

Independent

But no charges can be pressed, says the CPS, because there is insufficient evidence to afford a realistic prospect of conviction.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Taking all the factors into consideration, the decision has been taken that there is insufficient evidence to afford a realistic prospect of conviction, and accordingly the police have been advised that no further action should be taken against Mr Bale".

Independent

The letters stated that: "Following a review of your case by the director of public prosecutions for England and Wales, he has concluded that on the evidence before him there is insufficient to afford a realistic prospect of convicting you for any such offence arising out of... ......

BBC

As she wrote in her journal, these schools seemed to her to "afford a happy prospect of rescuing many poor children from vice and profligacy".

Wikipedia

Mr Paxon can surely afford a modest wager on his prospects.Or can he?

The Economist

Its shares are up 12p to £19.56 as Nomura raised its recommendation from neutral to buy, partly on the prospect it could afford a capital return of some £300m to investors over the next two to three years.

The Guardian - Business

Yet the same crazy market that means you have to "make the impossible possible" in order to afford a high-rise flat means there are millions of people in perfectly good jobs with no prospect of ever affording a decent place to live – unacceptable in an economy that George Osborne boasts can be the world's richest by 2030.

The Guardian - Business

They also pointed out the need to give more attention to survivors of sexual harassment and assault — many of whom are never afforded any prospects for a career comeback and are instead forced out of their industries.

HuffPost

Further, BP can't afford the prospect of a Macondo-like oil spill in an area of such exceptional marine significance.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "afford a prospect", ensure the context clearly indicates the provision of an opportunity or potential future benefit. Consider alternative phrasings like "offer a possibility" if a more common expression is desired.

Common error

Avoid using "afford a prospect" excessively in formal writing where simpler alternatives like "offer an opportunity" might be more appropriate and less verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "afford a prospect" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun phrase, indicating the act of providing an opportunity or potential. According to Ludwig AI, it is not a commonly used phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "afford a prospect" is a grammatically acceptable but somewhat uncommon phrase that indicates the provision of an opportunity or future potential. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not frequently used. Its usage leans towards neutral to formal contexts, with primary occurrence in news and media and scientific domains. While it is understandable, writers should consider more common alternatives like "offer a possibility" or "provide an opportunity" for increased clarity and impact. The phrase can be useful, but it's essential to ensure the context supports its slightly elevated formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer a possibility

Replaces 'afford' with 'offer' to convey a sense of providing a potential outcome.

provide an opportunity

Substitutes 'afford' with 'provide' for a more direct expression of making an opportunity available.

present a chance

Uses 'present' instead of 'afford' to indicate the offering of a favorable circumstance.

give a hope

Emphasizes the provision of optimism or positive expectation.

create a potential

Focuses on the act of generating a future possibility.

open up an avenue

Suggests the creation of a new path or method.

pave the way for

Indicates the preparation for a future event or development.

enable a future

Highlights the empowerment of something to occur in the future.

augur well for

Implies a positive prediction for future success or favorable conditions.

hold promise for

Conveys that something indicates a likelihood of future success or positive outcome.

FAQs

What does "afford a prospect" mean?

The phrase "afford a prospect" means to provide an opportunity or possibility for something to happen or develop in the future. It suggests that a particular action or situation creates favorable conditions for a future outcome.

How can I use "afford a prospect" in a sentence?

You can use "afford a prospect" in a sentence to indicate that something creates a positive outlook or potential. For example, "The new training program "affords a prospect" of career advancement for employees."

What are some alternatives to "afford a prospect"?

Alternatives to "afford a prospect" include "offer a possibility", "provide an opportunity", or "present a chance". These phrases convey a similar meaning of creating a positive or favorable condition.

Is "afford a prospect" a formal or informal expression?

"Afford a prospect" leans towards a slightly formal register. In more informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "give a chance" or "offer an opportunity" might be more suitable.