chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "chance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an opportunity or possibility of something happening. Example: I was given a chance to present my project to the panel of judges.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Books

Lifestyle

Music

Opinion

World

Football

Politics

Arts

Business

TV & Radio

Travel

Education

Environment

US News

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No chance".

The New York Times - Sports

I wanted to give society a chance to determine if it should change itself.

The Guardian

"With Rick gone, and with him the chance of ever doing it again, it feels right that these revisited and reworked tracks should be made available as part of our repertoire".

The Guardian - Music

He has a good chance to win here".

The Guardian - Sport

"No bloody chance".

The New York Times

This book has been my chance to find out what makes other top people in sport, business and politics as successful as me.

The Guardian - Books

The Queen is one of the world's biggest winners, though it has to be said, she only got the job through an accident of birth, and loads of other people might have been as good if they had been given the same chance.

The Guardian - Books

What he failed to realise was that the British public are very gullible, and if you keep telling them something for long enough, there's a chance they'll believe it.

The Guardian - Books

His heroism had been forgotten, but doing something like this means you give the person whose life was cut short another chance, and you acknowledge the part their life played in the next chapter of your family's story".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So her protestations of ordinariness might all seem somewhat disingenuous – though it's refreshing to hear a pop megastar acknowledge concepts such as luck and chance, rather than grimly trotting out American dream cliches and Protestant work ethic myths – were it not for her own career decisions bearing it out.

The Guardian - Music

"At 30 there is no chance that she will have any of the certainties that we enjoyed but maybe my grandchildren will.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "chance" to denote a possibility or opportunity, and ensure it aligns with the overall tone of your writing to convey the appropriate level of formality or informality.

Common error

Avoid using "chance" in highly formal or academic writing when a more precise term like "probability" or "likelihood" would be more appropriate. Using "chance" in formal settings can make the writing seem less rigorous and scholarly.

Linguistic Context

The word "chance" functions primarily as a noun, denoting an opportunity or possibility. It can also act as a verb, meaning to happen by chance. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Sport

13%

Books

7%

Less common in

Lifestyle

6%

Music

5%

Opinion

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "chance" is a versatile term used to denote opportunity, possibility, or probability. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage in various contexts, predominantly in News & Media. While generally neutral in tone, more precise terms like "probability" may be preferred in formal academic or scientific writing. When using "chance", consider quantifying it when referring to probability, and be mindful of the context to maintain appropriate formality. Common alternatives include "opportunity", "possibility", and "likelihood".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opportunity

Focuses more on a favorable set of circumstances for doing something.

possibility

Emphasizes the potential for something to occur or be true.

likelihood

Highlights the probability of something happening.

prospect

Suggests an expectation or anticipation of something in the future.

gamble

Implies taking a risk with the hope of a positive outcome.

risk

Focuses on the potential for loss or harm.

hazard

Emphasizes a danger or potential cause of harm.

odds

Refers to the probability of a specific outcome in a game or situation.

break

Suggests a fortunate or favorable turn of events.

fluke

Implies an accidental or unexpected occurrence.

FAQs

How to use "chance" in a sentence?

You can use "chance" to refer to an opportunity, a possibility, or the probability of something happening. For example, "I had the chance to meet the president", "There is a chance of rain", or "Don't leave it to chance".

What can I say instead of "chance"?

You can use alternatives like "opportunity", "possibility", "likelihood", or "prospect" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "take a chance" or "take the chance"?

"Take a chance" is generally used to mean taking a risk. "Take the chance" is used to mean taking advantage of a specific opportunity. For example, "I'll take a chance on that investment" vs. "I'll take the chance to speak at the conference".

What's the difference between "chance" and "opportunity"?

"Chance" often implies a possibility or probability, while "opportunity" suggests a favorable set of circumstances or a specific occasion to do something. "There's a chance it will rain" vs. "This is a great opportunity to learn".