as a probable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a probable" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express something that is likely or expected, but it lacks proper context and structure. Example: "The results of the experiment were inconclusive, and we can only consider them as a probable outcome."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In none of the calls is Rice identified as a probable minor.

The Guardian

Cadmium has been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a probable human carcinogen.

The Guardian

The New York Medical Examiner's office listed her death as "a probable suicide".

The New York Times - Arts

April 6 has been mentioned as a probable date for the fight.

The New York Times - Sports

(A diet of kielbasa and stuffed cabbage was cited as a probable explanation).

The New York Times

Mr Read puts him down as a probable Green voter.Cambridge is not Britain.

The Economist

But they have already locked up a player who was projected as a probable first-round draft pick.

The New York Times - Sports

"Service is not as good there as in New York City," he said, citing predetermined gratuities as a probable reason.

The New York Times

No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but the authorities were treating it as a probable act of terrorism.

The New York Times

The figures were comparable in New Hampshire, but in South Carolina, fewer voters saw Mr. McCain as a probable winner.

The New York Times

Anyone with four or more was counted as a probable abductee.More seriously, definitions and reporting habits change.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, replace "as a probable" with simpler alternatives like "likely" or "probably".

Common error

Avoid using convoluted phrases like "as a probable" when direct alternatives such as "likely" offer greater clarity and grammatical precision.

Linguistic Context

Adjective phrase modifying a noun. While frequently used, it is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect. It attempts to qualify a noun as being likely or expected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

55%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "as a probable" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning is to express likelihood or expectation, but direct alternatives like "likely" or "probably" offer greater clarity and grammatical precision. It is more common in news and scientific contexts, but careful writers should prefer grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and accuracy in their writing. Despite its frequent use, aiming for grammatical accuracy will improve overall communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likely

A direct adjective to indicate probability, omitting the "as a" construction.

probably

An adverb modifying a verb to indicate that something is likely to happen.

a likely

Restructures the phrase to use "likely" as a more direct adjective.

potentially

Indicates a possibility, but doesn't specify likelihood.

possibly

Indicates a weaker likelihood than "probably".

in all likelihood

An idiomatic phrase conveying a high degree of probability.

a possible

Suggests something could happen or be true.

it seems probable that

Introduces a sense of probability based on available evidence.

it is probable that

A more formal construction using a full clause.

with some probability

Emphasizes that an event is not certain but has a degree of likelihood.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "as a probable"?

You can use alternatives like "likely", "probably", or "potentially" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "as a probable"?

No, the phrase "as a probable" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use adjectives like "likely" or adverbs like "probably".

How to use "likely" correctly?

Use "likely" as an adjective (e.g., "a likely outcome") or as an adverbial modifier (e.g., "it will likely rain").

What's the difference between "as a probable" and "a likely"?

"As a probable" is not grammatically sound. Use "a likely" (e.g., "a likely cause") to properly express possibility.