eliminating a possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "eliminating a possibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of removing or dismissing a potential option or outcome in a given context. Example: "By conducting thorough research, we are eliminating a possibility of error in our findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Colonies of Fus1 KO and WT 129sv mice were maintained in the same facility at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, thus eliminating a possibility of strain- and environment-specific artefacts.

Cell Death and Disease

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This comparison confirms involvement of alpha7 nAChR on the fetus, and eliminates a possibility of maternal effect.

Plosone

"Inactivity" was defined as less than 0.1 cm per min, to eliminate a possibility of camera noise or small movements of the fins interfering with the activity analysis.

Plosone

Our study cannot eliminate a possibility that hypersensitivity reaction might be related to product contamination and its lack of standardization across brands.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Finally, in order to eliminate a possibility of a translational response to arsenite treatment instigated by means other than eIF2 phosphorylation we analyzed expression of the reporters in the presence of DTT, another well-known inducer of eIF2 phosphorylation (see Prostko et al., 1993, MCB, 127-128 255-65, PMID: 7935356).

eLife

A more conservative approach for eliminating such a possibility involves filtering the log2 ratio and using this filtered signal in place of a segmented signal.

BMC Medical Genomics

Insofar as the odd-sounding utterances Lewis cites state the fallibilist idea, the latter portion thereof ('S cannot eliminate a certain possibility in which not-p', e.g).

SEP

It eliminates a major possibility for me to get in trouble.

Huffington Post

National statistics reveal that over half of violent crime goes unreported, eliminating any possibility of a prosecution.

The Guardian - Opinion

But good intentions can have a high price: eliminating any possibility of earthquake injury poses other risks.

The New York Times

Many citizens at the scene of a protest will now take a picture of a day's newspaper, or a poster with the day's date, before filming the rest of a demonstration, thus eliminating any possibility of fraud.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "eliminating a possibility", ensure that the context clearly defines what actions are being taken to remove the potential outcome. For example, "Implementing strict protocols is aimed at eliminating a possibility of contamination".

Common error

Avoid using "eliminating a possibility" when the outcome is not completely certain. If there's still a small chance of the possibility occurring, consider using phrases like "reducing the likelihood" or "mitigating the risk" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "eliminating a possibility" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as part of a clause that describes an action taken to prevent a certain outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "eliminating a possibility" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to describe actions undertaken to prevent specific outcomes. Its usage spans across science, news, and formal business contexts, maintaining a neutral to formal tone. Remember to use it when you genuinely mean complete prevention, and avoid overstating certainty when a risk is merely reduced. By considering these nuances, you can effectively and accurately use "eliminating a possibility" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ruling out a chance

Changes "eliminating" to "ruling out" and "possibility" to "chance", slightly informal.

excluding an option

Substitutes "eliminating" with "excluding" and "possibility" with "option", focusing on active removal.

negating a potential outcome

Replaces "eliminating" with "negating" and rephrases "possibility" as "potential outcome", more formal.

precluding a prospect

Uses "precluding" instead of "eliminating" and "prospect" for "possibility", creating a more sophisticated tone.

removing an eventuality

Employs "removing" in place of "eliminating" and substitutes "possibility" with "eventuality", increasing formality.

avoiding a risk

Shifts from eliminating to actively avoiding, implying a proactive approach to the possibility.

discounting an opportunity

Focuses on disregarding or not considering an opportunity as a real possibility.

dispelling an illusion

Replaces a concrete 'possibility' with the more abstract 'illusion', suggesting a belief being negated.

nullifying an assumption

Targets an underlying assumption rather than a direct possibility, implying a deeper level of negation.

canceling a contingency

Addresses a conditional possibility, specifically canceling or undoing its potential impact.

FAQs

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

You can use "eliminating a possibility" to describe actions taken to prevent something from happening. For instance, "Regular maintenance helps in eliminating a possibility of mechanical failure".

What are some alternatives to "eliminating a possibility"?

Alternatives include phrases like "ruling out a chance", "excluding an option", or "negating a potential outcome", depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is it better to say "eliminate a possibility" or "reduce the possibility"?

The choice depends on the context. "Eliminate a possibility" implies complete removal, while "reduce the possibility" suggests lessening the likelihood but not entirely preventing it. Use the former when actions ensure something cannot occur and the latter when only reducing the chance.

What's the difference between "eliminating a possibility" and "mitigating a risk"?

"Eliminating a possibility" suggests completely preventing an event, while "mitigating a risk" implies reducing the severity or impact of a potential event, not necessarily preventing it altogether. Therefore, "mitigating a risk" addresses the consequences, whereas "eliminating a possibility" focuses on prevention.