enhance the likelihood

USAGE SUMMARY

"enhance the likelihood" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to increasing the chances of something occurring. For example, "The new medical devices we purchased are expected to enhance the likelihood of successful treatment outcomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"My orders enhance the likelihood of Chapter 9 reorganization, speeds the bankruptcy case and cuts costs to taxpayers," he said.

The New York Times

One reason for doing so was to enhance the likelihood that the committee could see the evidence that Mueller developed through the use of his investigating grand jury.

The Washington Post

Done thoughtfully, cost cutting can actually improve the company's portfolio momentum and enhance the likelihood of outperforming peers in the future.

Harvard Business Review

This would enhance the likelihood that basic science discoveries would be applied as new approaches to the prevention and treatment of disease, a process known as translational medicine.

Stanford University

In particular, experimentation, responding to low-performers, the existence of feedback loops, and motivation to make improvements enhance the likelihood of innovative activity.

Research Policy

Similarly, the elastic shear strain behind the crack tip was offset and this would enhance the likelihood of developing mode I crack closure at crack surface irregularities.

International Journal of Fatigue

So car-makers are liable for defects that enhance the likelihood of injury; and they are expected to add devices to reduce accidents.

The Economist

We engineered an efficient system to make Francisella tularensis deletion mutations using an unstable, poorly maintained plasmid to enhance the likelihood of homologous recombination.

Journal of Microbiological Methods

Commitment to the study of one's field: Preference will be given to those for whom the awarding of the scholarship would significantly enhance the likelihood of the student attending graduate school.

Cornell University

Teaching techniques that explicitly model, scaffold, motivate, and help students to bridge what they learn to new contexts (i.e., transfer) greatly enhance the likelihood that students will learn well and actively use what they learn.

Harvard University

The project, launched in 2006 in response to increasing interest in farm start-ups, aims to enhance the likelihood of success of new ag enterprises by making the best resources and training available to new and diversifying farmers.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, be mindful of the context. While "enhance the likelihood" is generally appropriate, consider if a more specific term (e.g., "guarantee", "ensure") might be more precise.

Common error

Avoid using "enhance the likelihood" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "improve the chances" are usually more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enhance the likelihood" functions as a purpose connector, indicating actions or conditions that are intended to increase the probability of a particular outcome. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correctness and usability in written English. Examples show its use in various contexts to describe improvements or contributing factors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

28%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "enhance the likelihood" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to indicate an increase in the probability of a specific outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is appropriate for use in various contexts, although it leans toward the formal side. Its primary function is to connect an action or condition to its probable result, often with the purpose of persuading or informing. Analysis of usage patterns shows that the phrase is very common in scientific, news media, and academic writing, making it a valuable addition to a writer's toolkit. While perfectly acceptable, remember that in more casual settings, simpler alternatives may be more fitting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Increase the probability

Directly replaces "enhance" with "increase" and "likelihood" with "probability", maintaining a high degree of semantic similarity.

Improve the chances

Uses more informal language, replacing "enhance the likelihood" with a simpler, more colloquial expression.

Boost the probability

Replaces "enhance" with "boost", suggesting a more active or forceful increase in probability.

Maximize the possibility

Shifts the focus to achieving the highest possible chance, emphasizing optimization.

Heighten the prospect

Uses more formal language, replacing "likelihood" with "prospect" to denote potential.

Raise the odds

Employs a more casual, statistical term "odds" to express probability.

Contribute to a higher probability

Highlights the contributing factor to increasing the probability, rather than directly stating the increase.

Make more likely

Simplifies the phrase into a verb and adjective construction, reducing formality.

Facilitate a greater chance

Focuses on facilitating or enabling a greater chance, indicating a more passive role.

Promote a higher likelihood

Uses "promote" to indicate active support or encouragement of a higher likelihood.

FAQs

How can I use "enhance the likelihood" in a sentence?

You can use "enhance the likelihood" to describe actions or strategies that increase the probability of a specific outcome. For example, "Implementing these new safety protocols will "enhance the likelihood" of preventing accidents."

What are some alternatives to "enhance the likelihood"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "increase the probability", "improve the chances", or "maximize the possibility".

Is "enhance the likelihood" formal or informal?

"Enhance the likelihood" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for academic, scientific, or professional writing. In more casual contexts, simpler alternatives may be preferable.

How does "enhance the likelihood" differ from "increase the likelihood"?

While very similar, "enhance" suggests a more nuanced or qualitative improvement, whereas "increase" is a more direct and quantitative term. In most cases, they are interchangeable, but "enhance the likelihood" might imply a more strategic or sophisticated approach.