chance combination of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "chance combination of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where two or more elements come together unexpectedly or without planning. Example: "The success of the project was due to a chance combination of innovative ideas and teamwork."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Yet this most recent industrial revolution, like earlier ones, depended on the chance combination of three elements: the scientist with his invention, an entrepreneur to market it, and an investor willing to risk his money.Eugene Kleiner was each of these, at different times.

The Economist

Symbolic reasoning is a truly new method of processing information about the surrounding world and, although many like to view it as the outcome of a long process of generation-by-generation fine-tuning, it is much better explained by emergence, whereby a chance combination of elements gives rise at once to an entirely new level of complexity (Tattersall 1998).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Similarly the cosmos and the individual things in the cosmos do not arise by a chance combination of limiters and unlimiteds; the limiters and unlimiteds must be fitted together in a pleasing way in accordance with number for an order to arise.

SEP

A single allele promoting a more domesticated phenotype could be masked in the wild by a dominant allele at the same locus, or by alleles at other loci in the pathway, until a chance combination of different pre-existing wild alleles produces a plant with a domestication phenotype.

Annals of Botany

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In her boutique and workshop, Ms. Collis, 38, focuses on her delicate pieces, experimenting with chance combinations of hand-melted gold nuggets and associations of fine stones.

The New York Times

A serious disadvantage is that the procedure diminishes the occurrence of chance combinations of genes, which sometimes leads to striking improvements in performance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But chance combinations of other kinds of particle decays could mimic those signatures, and CERN physicists say that to be sure of their finding, they would like to increase the energy of their existing accelerator slightly and then collect data for about six more months.

The New York Times

Typically, Kepler used the occasion both to render practical predictions (e.g., the collapse of Islam and the return of Christ) and to speculate theoretically about the universe for example, that the star was not the result of chance combinations of atoms and that stars are not suns.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Species are not regarded as permanent abstract forms, but as the result of chance combinations of atoms.

SEP

My favorite words are the ones he never wrote, neologisms, and slang that manifest by chance combinations of letters.Borges Library is a probabilistic text, where many people, unaware of what the others are doing, collectively build something new and strange".

Vice

If, on the other hand, the arrangement was a chance combination, the coincidence in every case of a greater circle with a swifter movement of the star contained in it is too much to believe.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "chance combination of" to underscore the unexpected or unplanned nature of an event or phenomenon. It is especially effective when discussing scientific discoveries, historical events, or unique outcomes that arise from unforeseen circumstances.

Common error

While acceptable, relying heavily on "chance combination of" can make your writing sound repetitive. In formal contexts, consider using synonyms like "fortuitous blend" or "serendipitous mix" to introduce variety and maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chance combination of" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It describes a situation where different elements come together unexpectedly. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "chance combination of" is used to describe an event or result arising from unforeseen circumstances. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and suitable for diverse contexts. While the phrase appears most often in scientific and news-related content, it is considered relatively rare. When writing, be mindful of overuse and consider semantically related alternatives such as ""random assortment of"" or ""fortuitous blend of"" to avoid repetition. Remember to emphasize the unexpected nature of the situation when employing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serendipitous mix of

Suggests that the combination was discovered by fortunate accident.

fortuitous blend of

Highlights the lucky or favorable nature of the combination.

random assortment of

Emphasizes the lack of deliberate selection in the grouping.

unexpected convergence of

Focuses on the surprising aspect of different elements coming together.

accidental merging of

It explicitly mentions it was unintentional.

unforeseen merging of

Implies that the combination was not anticipated or predicted.

coincidental union of

Underlines that the combination happened at the same time by chance.

haphazard grouping of

Indicates a lack of organization or planning in the combination.

unplanned alignment of

Focuses on elements coming together without prior arrangement.

arbitrary selection of

Emphasizes the subjective and potentially random choice of elements.

FAQs

How can I use "chance combination of" in a sentence?

You can use "chance combination of" to describe an unexpected event or result. For example: "The discovery was a "chance combination of" careful research and unexpected circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "chance combination of"?

Alternatives include "random assortment of", "fortuitous blend of", or "serendipitous mix of" depending on the specific context.

Is "chance combination of" formal or informal?

"Chance combination of" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but more formal alternatives like "fortuitous blend" may be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What does "chance combination of" imply?

It implies that an outcome or result was not planned or intended but arose from a series of random or unexpected events aligning in a particular way.