compounds the possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compounds the possibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations or factors that increase or exacerbate the likelihood of an event occurring. Example: "The lack of communication between departments compounds the possibility of project delays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And this "unprecedented transparency" compounds the possibility of doing both good and evil.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Also inhabiting the castle are Berger's full-figured (zaftig is really the word) and narcissistic daughter, the lascivious Lady Esther Rebecca Richh), and the three guards -- played by Kurt Domoney, Paul Romero and John Michael Coppola -- who manage, when not drinking on duty, to compound the possibilities of confusion.

The New York Times

Studio executives are nervous about angering the famously vengeful and litigious Trump, compounded by the possibility of getting on the wrong side of the possible next president.

Huffington Post

The situation in Los Angeles is interesting because the apparent desire of General Manager Kevin Malone to change managers is compounded by the possibility that Malone himself could be fired.

The New York Times - Sports

Our results could well be compounded by the possibility of capsular tear following high-energy trauma and self-decompression.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

The gravity of this issue is further compounded by the possibility of bacteria to transfer resistance determinants horizontally to pathogens and commensal gut microbiota.

Food Research International

These inequalities are further compounded by the possibility of undetected sophisticated doping.

BMC Medical Ethics

The global biological threat environment is compounded by the possibility of rogue states and/or terrorists deliberately using biological agents as weapons of war.

BMC Public Health

From this it was argued that individual constituent semantics were accessed only for transparent compounds, suggesting the possibility of combinatorial processing only for transparent compounds, but a direct whole-form access route for opaque compounds.

Brain and Language

Compounding the issue, is the possibility that the U.S. will run out of time to raise the debt limit before it runs out of room to borrow money, according to the NYT.

Huffington Post

The grating can act as a substrate for other proteins or compounds, raising the possibility that silk films could be used for implantable biosensors or in drug delivery, with the silk dissolving in the body at a controlled rate to release the drug.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "compounds the possibility" when you want to emphasize that multiple factors are combining to increase the chance of a particular outcome, especially a negative one.

Common error

Avoid using "compounds the possibility" in situations where a simpler phrase like "increases the chance" would suffice. The phrase is most effective when highlighting a complex interplay of factors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compounds the possibility" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun phrase, indicating that something is increasing or exacerbating the likelihood of a particular outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, showing it is used to describe factors that intensify a potential situation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "compounds the possibility" is a grammatically correct expression used to indicate that certain factors increase the likelihood of a particular event. It is most frequently found in scientific and news contexts, as noted by Ludwig. Alternatives include "increases the likelihood of" or "heightens the potential for". When writing, it's best to use this phrase when referring to a complex situation involving multiple contributing factors. While it's a valid phrase, using it in simpler cases may sound unnatural. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable expression in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exacerbates the chance

Changes the verb to "exacerbates", emphasizing a worsening effect on the likelihood.

increases the likelihood of

Replaces "compounds" with "increases the likelihood", providing a more direct and common alternative.

heightens the potential for

Substitutes "compounds" with "heightens", suggesting an intensification of the potential.

worsens the prospect of

Uses "worsens" to replace "compounds", indicating a negative impact on the prospect.

aggravates the risk of

Employs "aggravates" to convey that the risk becomes more severe.

amplifies the chance for

Replaces "compounds" with "amplifies", suggesting an increase in the chance or opportunity.

adds to the probability of

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the meaning of increasing the probability.

magnifies the outlook for

Changes "compounds" to "magnifies", emphasizing a greater outlook.

intensifies the expectation of

Replaces "compounds" with "intensifies", highlighting a stronger expectation.

further complicates the potential for

Uses a more elaborate construction to show that something further complicates existing potential.

FAQs

How can I use "compounds the possibility" in a sentence?

Use "compounds the possibility" to indicate that multiple factors are increasing the likelihood of something happening. For example, "The lack of funding compounds the possibility of project delays."

What are some alternatives to "compounds the possibility"?

You can use alternatives like "increases the likelihood of", "heightens the potential for", or "exacerbates the chance", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "compounds the possibility" or "increases the possibility"?

"Compounds the possibility" is often used when referring to multiple contributing factors that make an outcome more likely, especially if the outcome is negative or undesirable. "Increases the possibility" is more general. The best choice depends on the context and the specific effect you want to emphasize.

What does "compounds" mean in the context of "compounds the possibility"?

In this context, "compounds" means to add to or intensify. It suggests that the contributing factor makes an existing possibility even more likely or severe.