closest possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "closest possibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the nearest or most likely option or outcome in a given context. Example: "After analyzing the data, we determined that the closest possibility for success is to implement the new marketing strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's not believe that anything Facebook does in music will be an "iTunes killer", but this is the closest possibility.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

She chose two families that she thought were the closest possibilities, although she knew that the odds were against either of them turning out to be related to Marcela or Felipe.

The New Yorker

This looks like a legitimately close possibility to our own.

SEP

On such a view, we can say that worlds where an infinite sequence of heads does occur at some close possibility will look very different from ours; they differ in law or history to ours.

SEP

Because of this dual process of opening and closing possibilities for meaning, AIDS helped rewrite the terms of significance in American Art".

Vice

Waking up and asking ourselves, "What do I have to do today?" is different than asking, "What do I get to do today?" or "What do I want to do today?" Given that questions have the capacity to open or close possibilities, it's worth thinking about what questions we want to ponder and which ones we're tired of asking ourselves.

Huffington Post

We additionally followed this with a confirmatory analysis focused only on word reading and spelling, because these measures provided the closest matching possibility across our datasets.

Genes, Brain and Behavior

"I don't think they can close any possibility," said Peter Greenberg, Reyes's agent.

The New York Times - Sports

The donation brings closer the possibility of the Express titles endorsing Ukip at the election.

Independent

But her main thrust was to open, not close, sexual possibility for women; besides which, other feminists just went as fancy took them.

The Guardian - Books

However under Malaysian law a person is banned from political activities for five years after the end of their sentence, closing the possibility of Anwar leading any campaign as he did in 2013.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "closest possibility", ensure the context clearly defines the criteria for closeness, whether it's likelihood, spatial proximity, or temporal nearness.

Common error

Avoid using "closest possibility" when there is significant uncertainty or multiple competing options. Instead, acknowledge the range of possibilities to maintain accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closest possibility" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "closest" modifies the noun "possibility". It describes the option or outcome that is most likely or nearest in a given context. As affirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "closest possibility" is a grammatically correct phrase used to denote the most likely or nearest option in a given situation. According to Ludwig, the phrase is appropriate for use in written English. It's a phrase that appears in news, science, and general contexts. While not overly frequent, it provides a clear way to emphasize the most probable outcome or choice. When using the term, ensure the criteria for closeness are well-defined for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearest prospect

Changes "possibility" to "prospect", emphasizing potential future outcomes that are very near or likely.

most probable outcome

Replaces "possibility" with "outcome" and "closest" with "most probable", highlighting likelihood.

likeliest option

Substitutes "possibility" for "option" and "closest" for "likeliest", focusing on choice.

most realistic chance

Uses "chance" instead of "possibility", adding "most realistic" for emphasis.

best bet

This is an idiomatic alternative that suggests the most promising choice or action.

most viable alternative

Replaces "possibility" with "alternative", underscoring feasibility.

most immediate likelihood

Focuses on immediacy and probability, suitable when timing is important.

next best thing

An idiomatic expression indicating something that is second best to an ideal scenario.

most proximate contingency

Uses more formal language to describe a nearby or impending event.

nearest contingency

Focuses on the proximity of an event that might occur.

FAQs

How can I use "closest possibility" in a sentence?

Use "closest possibility" to refer to the most likely or nearest option among a set of potential outcomes or choices. For example: "After considering all factors, the "closest possibility" for resolving the dispute is mediation."

What are some alternatives to "closest possibility"?

You can use alternatives like "nearest prospect", "most probable outcome", or "likeliest option" depending on the specific context.

Is "closest possibility" formal or informal?

The phrase "closest possibility" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the communication.

What does "closest possibility" imply about other options?

Using "closest possibility" suggests that while other options may exist, they are less likely or less near in terms of outcome, solution, or occurrence. It implies a comparative assessment has been made.