best likely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "best likely" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a mix-up of "most likely" or "best suited." Example: "She is the most likely candidate for the job due to her extensive experience."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

This ​is not a prediction, but rather an illustration of the best likely scenario for the Conservatives.

The Guardian

"Sustainable upside on the shares will depend upon execution on Trian's sales growth and margin targets, which we view as highly aggressive, and at best likely to take two to three years to fully achieve," Eric A. Serotta, an analyst with Merrill Lynch, recently wrote.

The New York Times

The moment you say, "Hey, Siri," your iPhone/Mac/HomePod, et al. communicate with one another, prioritizing either the device that heard the query the best (likely the closest) or was most recently used.

TechCrunch

The best likely outcome?

HuffPost

In the meantime it seems that ego-depletion is, at best, likely a shadow of the hyped version popularized in recent decades.

Huffington Post

A revised sample size was calculated to detect a difference from 1% (the best likely failure rate in any arm) and 15% (above which no drug could be deployed).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But theatergoers who crave heaping helpings of comfort food from the days when voters liked Ike and father knew best are likely to go away hungry.

The New York Times

The Pt-Ba nanofibrous Al2O3-supported catalyst resulted in the best performance, likely due to better Pt dispersion.

Catalysis Today

The system that performs best is likely to reach the field quickly.

MIT Technology Review

Garcia, Martínez Bravo and Onieva will be a sideshow at best; more likely they will be an irrelevance.

The Guardian - Sport

Brecht, a Marxist, had no doubt that it was the Soviets and Stalin who were the best guardians, likely to water it well and bring forth fruit.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "best likely" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "most likely" or "best bet" to ensure clarity and credibility.

Common error

The phrase "best likely" incorrectly combines an adjective ("best") with an adverb ("likely"). To correct this, use "most likely" or restructure the sentence for clarity. "Most likely" correctly uses "most" as an adverb modifying "likely."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "best likely" attempts to combine an adjective denoting superiority ("best") with an adverb indicating probability ("likely"). However, Ludwig AI indicates this construction is grammatically incorrect, leading to potential ambiguity. Its function is intended to express the most probable and desirable outcome.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "best likely" aims to express a scenario that is both highly probable and the most desirable. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. While examples can be found across various sources, including news, science and academia, it's not recommended for formal usage. Alternatives such as "most likely", "best bet", or "highly probable" are clearer and more grammatically sound, ensuring more effective communication. It's generally advisable to avoid "best likely" to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most probable

Replaces "best" with "most" and "likely" with "probable", both conveying a high degree of possibility.

most plausible

Substitutes "likely" with "plausible", emphasizing the believability or credibility of a scenario.

highly likely

Replaces "best" with "highly" which emphasizes the probability.

very probable

Emphasizes the high probability of something occurring.

most promising

Shifts the focus to potential and positive outcomes, implying the highest chance of success.

optimal chance

Combines the idea of the best possible outcome with the concept of chance or likelihood.

best bet

An informal way of saying the most advisable or probable course of action.

greatest likelihood

Formalizes the expression, emphasizing the highest degree of probability.

most predictable

Implies that something is easily foreseen or expected, and therefore highly likely.

leading prospect

Focuses on future potential and the high probability of achieving a desired outcome.

FAQs

What does "best likely" mean?

The phrase "best likely" is not standard English. It appears to attempt to combine the concept of something being optimal or the "best" with the probability of it happening. However, it is grammatically incorrect; "most likely" or "best bet" are better options.

How can I use "most likely" in a sentence?

You can use "most likely" to indicate the highest probability. For example, "She is the most likely candidate to win the election".

What's a good alternative to "best likely"?

Alternatives to "best likely" include "most likely", "best bet", or "highly probable". The choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever correct to use "best likely"?

While some sources use "best likely", it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's safer and clearer to use established phrases like "most likely" or "best bet" to avoid confusion.