every possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"every possibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to every available option or outcome, for example: "We explored every possibility to find a solution, but in the end we could not come up with one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"There are so many possible theories they're almost filling every possibility of thinking".

BBC

"Again we look at every possibility".

The New York Times

"I really exhausted every possibility.

The New Yorker

Ahmed replied: "There's every possibility".

The Guardian

"I was trying to maximize every possibility.

The New York Times - Sports

By using multiple narrators, McBurney allows for every possibility.

The Guardian

"He has every possibility to do so," Barbieri said.

The Guardian

"We're looking at every possibility to push the boundaries back.

The Guardian

"I wonder if we're reaching for every possibility," Groth said.

The New York Times - Sports

But his authority derives from exhausting every possibility.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

You exhausted every possibility there was to make something great or make something better.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with verbs like "explore", "exhaust", "consider" or "examine" to describe a rigorous process.

Common error

A frequent mistake is writing "every possibilities". Because "every" acts as a distributive quantifier focusing on members of a group individually, it must be followed by the singular "possibility". If you need to use the plural, switch to "all possibilities".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every possibility" functions as a noun phrase acting as a direct object or the head of a prepositional phrase. It serves as a universal quantifier, indicating that the set being discussed is exhaustive. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is most frequently used to describe a comprehensive search or a thorough logical evaluation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Wiki

7%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Legal

0.5%

Fiction

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "every possibility" is a robust and highly reliable expression used to denote total exhaustiveness. Data from Ludwig AI confirms that it is one of the most common ways to express thoroughness in professional English, appearing in over 50 high-quality examples from elite sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. It is grammatically straightforward, requiring only that the following noun remain in the singular. Whether you are discussing scientific theories, sports strategies or legal investigations, "every possibility" remains a versatile and powerful tool for any writer looking to convey that their analysis is complete.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

each and every possibility

A pleonastic expression used for rhetorical emphasis to stress that absolutely nothing was missed

all possibilities

Uses a plural construction to refer to the collection as a whole rather than focusing on each individual instance

every eventuality

More formal and typically refers to future outcomes or potential problems that might arise

every potential outcome

Focuses specifically on the results or consequences of an action

all available options

More practical and business-oriented, focusing on choices currently present

every conceivable scenario

Emphasizes that even the most imaginative or unlikely options have been considered

the full spectrum of possibilities

Provides a more descriptive, imagery-based way to describe the range of options

any possibility

Often used in negative or hypothetical contexts to suggest a lack of even a single option

every single chance

Adds the word single to increase the weight of the quantifier

every avenue

A metaphorical alternative suggesting different paths or methods were explored

FAQs

Is "every possibility" grammatically correct?

Yes, "every possibility" is perfectly correct in English. It consists of the quantifier "every" followed by a singular countable noun. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is widely used in reputable publications like The New York Times and The Guardian.

Should I use "every possibility" or "all possibilities"?

Both are correct, but they have different grammatical requirements. Use "every possibility" for a singular focus and "all possibilities" when you want to refer to them collectively as a group.

What is a more formal way to say "every possibility"?

In formal or legal contexts, you might prefer "every eventuality" or "every conceivable scenario" to sound more precise.

Can I use "each and every possibility" for emphasis?

Yes, using "each and every possibility" is a common way to add rhetorical weight and emphasize that the search or consideration was absolute.