and possibly so

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "and possibly so" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to suggest uncertainty or to indicate that something might be true or applicable, but it's not certain. Example: "The results of the experiment were inconclusive, and possibly so were the assumptions we made at the beginning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Ang Lee's 'Life of Pi' is the best-looking film I've seen this year, and possibly so far this century," echoed Lou Lumenick in the New York Post.

Huffington Post

The satellite briefly made headlines due to an "unknown object" that was at first described as "possibly as large as the giant planet Jupiter and possibly so close to Earth that it would be part of this Solar System".

Wikipedia

While its mission did not involve a search for Planet X, the IRAS space observatory made headlines briefly in 1983 due to an "unknown object" that was at first described as "possibly as large as the giant planet Jupiter and possibly so close to Earth that it would be part of this Solar System".

Wikipedia

Yet, secreted proteins cannot be easily recycled, and possibly so cannot the exterior domains of outer membrane proteins, making them more expensive.

Current Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But Helene wants more than that: she wants to see Natasha's utter corruption and ruin (possibly so that she can feel better about herself) and she wants to know that she has had a hand in it.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"It's as bad as you could possibly imagine, and possibly more so.

The Guardian

And, possibly more so than at any other time in recent history.

The Guardian

But in other ways it's almost as dysfunctional as ever, and possibly more so.

The New Yorker

Anyone who refers to themselves in the third person must be counted a little strange, and possibly dangerously so.

Independent

If he falls, he knows there will be bruising and possibly bleeding, so he runs away to stop the fuss".

The Guardian

To say nothing, and possibly rightly so, of her planned Viva la Diva show with Katherine Jenkins in the autumn.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "and possibly so", ensure the context clearly establishes what the "so" refers to. Clarity is crucial in avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "and possibly so" can sound informal or conversational. In formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives like "and it is plausible that" or "and it is potentially the case" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "and possibly so" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase. It connects a previous statement with a subsequent clause, expressing a degree of uncertainty or possibility regarding the previous statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "and possibly so" serves as a conjunctive adverbial phrase expressing uncertainty or possibility in connection with a previous statement. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, although it tends to appear more frequently in news, media, science, and wiki contexts. While acceptable in many situations, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives in academic or professional writing to maintain a precise and polished tone. When using "and possibly so", ensure the antecedent statement is clear to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

and potentially so

Replaces "possibly" with "potentially", indicating something has the capacity to be true or occur.

and plausibly so

Substitutes "possibly" with "plausibly", emphasizing that something appears reasonable or believable.

and conceivably so

Replaces "possibly" with "conceivably", implying something is within the realm of possibility, though perhaps unlikely.

and feasibly so

Replaces "possibly" with "feasibly", highlighting that something is capable of being done or carried out.

and imaginably so

Substitutes "possibly" with "imaginably", suggesting something can be imagined or conceived.

and it could be so

Rephrases the idea using "could be", indicating a possibility or potential.

and that might be so

Employs "might be" to suggest a degree of uncertainty or a hypothetical scenario.

and maybe that's so

Uses "maybe" instead of "possibly", offering a less formal expression of uncertainty.

and perhaps that's the case

Expresses uncertainty more explicitly using "perhaps" and adding the phrase "that's the case".

and it is quite possible

Replaces the concise phrase with a more verbose, yet still uncertain statement.

FAQs

What does "and possibly so" mean?

The phrase "and possibly so" means and it is also possible that what has just been stated is true. It expresses a degree of uncertainty or conjecture.

How can I use "and possibly so" in a sentence?

Use "and possibly so" to add a note of uncertainty or possibility to a previous statement. For example, "The data is incomplete, "and possibly so" explains the inconsistent results."

Are there more formal alternatives to "and possibly so"?

Yes, in formal contexts, consider using phrases such as "and it is plausible that", "and it is potentially the case", or "and it is conceivable that".

Is "and possibly so" grammatically correct?

Yes, "and possibly so" is grammatically correct, although it might sound somewhat informal depending on the context. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English.