complete chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complete chance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or outcome that occurs without any planning or predictability. Example: "Winning the lottery was a complete chance; I never expected to get lucky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The kappa can assume values between −1 and 1; 0 shows a complete chance occurrence and −1 or 1 show a completely determined occurrence.

British Journal of Cancer

Kappa can take values between -1 and 1; 0 indicates complete chance occurrence, and -1 or 1 indicates a process that is completely determined.

Breast Cancer Research

Deciding against that was a lucky escape as, by complete chance, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait the first week it went out, in August 1990.

The Guardian

Other standouts were the roof terrace at Hotel President and the Café Kor, where, by complete chance, I ended up having dinner next to John Hurt.

Independent

'I first came here by complete chance to rest and read,' he says.

BBC

The last time Charlie Welch, the DLC's Conservation Coordinator, was in Madagascar, by complete chance he ran into ant specialist Brian Fisher of the California Academy of Sciences.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Control was complete; chances a different matter.

The Guardian - Sport

Rarely does the History Channel, or any other splicer of yesteryear's reels, get as complete a chance to depict the soul of an extraordinary human undertaking as Gene Kranz provides in "Beyond the Moon: Failure Is Not an Option II".

The New York Times

It will take less than five minutes to complete, and chances are you'll feel a little restored and relaxed when you go back to your tasks.

Huffington Post

The probability that an alignment would have complete ORFs by chance was determined from the frequency of alignments with complete ORFs in the parametric simulation.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Plus: interviews, news and reviews of the top films complete with the chance to have your say.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "complete chance", ensure the context clearly indicates that the event was unplanned and without any foreseeable cause. It is most effective when emphasizing the unexpected nature of an outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "complete chance" when there's a known possibility or influencing factor. For events with some degree of predictability, alternatives like "fortunate outcome" or "lucky break" might be more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complete chance" functions as a noun phrase describing an event or situation driven purely by luck or randomness. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples where it highlights the absence of planning or control.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "complete chance" is a noun phrase that describes an event occurring purely by luck or randomness. Ludwig AI confirms that its grammatical status is correct. While not extremely common, it is used in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Scientific writing, to emphasize the unexpected nature of an outcome. Alternatives such as "pure luck" or "sheer coincidence" can be used depending on the desired emphasis. When using "complete chance", ensure that the context indicates the absence of any planning or foreseeable cause.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pure luck

Focuses specifically on luck as the driving factor, omitting the element of possibility.

sheer coincidence

Emphasizes the accidental alignment of events, rather than the element of risk.

total accident

Highlights the unplanned and unintended nature of the event, omitting the aspect of possibility.

fluke occurrence

Suggests an unusual and improbable event, but maintains the element of luck.

random happening

Underscores the absence of pattern or predictability, but can denote actions of a subject, not necessarily luck.

stroke of fortune

This phrase implies that the event was not only lucky but also brought about a positive outcome.

by happenstance

This is an adverbial phrase indicating that something occurred unexpectedly.

unforeseen event

Highlights that something that could not be predicted. It omits the luck and/or possibility aspects that complete chance includes.

blind luck

Emphasizes the undirected nature of the luck involved. It omits the possibility aspects that complete chance includes.

out of the blue

Focuses on the sudden and unexpected nature of the event.

FAQs

How can I use "complete chance" in a sentence?

You can use "complete chance" to describe events that occur without planning or predictability. For example, "Meeting my favorite author at the bookstore was a complete chance."

What are some alternatives to "complete chance"?

Alternatives include "pure luck", "sheer coincidence", or "total accident", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "complete chance"? Can't chance imply completeness?

While "chance" itself suggests unpredictability, "complete chance" emphasizes the utter lack of planning or influence, highlighting the randomness of the event. The level of redundancy adds emphasis to the unexpected nature of the event. It's a matter of style and desired emphasis.

Can "complete chance" be used in formal writing?

"Complete chance" is suitable for most writing contexts, including news reports. If you feel it is too informal, you can use alternatives like "pure luck" or "sheer coincidence".