far less probable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far less probable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the likelihood of two or more events or outcomes, indicating that one is significantly less likely than the other. Example: "Given the current evidence, it seems that a sudden economic collapse is far less probable than a gradual downturn."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

These results suggest that within the subensemble of mostly unstructured states, the energy landscapes are dominated by states in which parts of helices adopt structure, whereas structure formation for sequences destined for β-strand is far less probable.

Journal of Molecular Biology

Furthermore, the T-form was the most common form in both WEAU and his transmitting partner RIER, and although the I-form was present in RIER's diverse population, it was found at very low frequency (0.001); co-transmission of such a rare form that is so nearly identical to the dominant form is far less probable than the single mutation arising in WEAU in an early replication cycle.

Plosone

For the manus, the ratio of maximum likelihood rates of digit gain and loss (9.524 × 10-5) indicathatthat increases in the number of digits are far less probable than reductions.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

That the level is higher for preventive scenarios is because effective 'cure' (i.e., relapse does not occur during the 50 year period assumed in our numerical experiments) is possible, especially at cell arrest levels beyond 0.3%, whereas 'cure' is far less probable for post-diagnostic interventions.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A federal official nominating such a person for inclusion on the list just needs "reasonable suspicion" of a danger – something defined as more than "mere guesses or hunches", based on articulable information or "rational inferences" from it, but far less than probable cause.

The Guardian

A far worse fate (and a much less probable one) would be an Islamic Century and imposition of a global Shariah law.

Huffington Post

Probably far less.

Forbes

Although prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, civil forfeiture can occur when there is probable cause to believe the property was connected to a crime--a far less rigorous standard.

Los Angeles Times

Some need far less.

The Economist

Many receive far, far less, if anything.

Independent

It adds up to far, far less.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing probabilities, ensure that the context clearly establishes what the compared events are. For example, specify "event A is far less probable than event B."

Common error

Avoid using "far less probable" when the difference in likelihood is marginal. This phrase should be reserved for scenarios where the probability difference is substantial and meaningful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far less probable" functions as an adverbial modifier that qualifies an adjective. It modifies the adjective "probable", indicating a significantly lower likelihood compared to something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far less probable" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a significant difference in likelihood between two events or outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While its register is generally neutral to formal, it effectively conveys emphasis to a lower probability. Use it judiciously to emphasize meaningful distinctions in likelihood. The phrase sees use in scientific and news media contexts, fitting arguments, analyses, or predictions where contrasting probabilities are essential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably less likely

Emphasizes a significant reduction in likelihood using a more formal tone.

substantially less probable

Similar to "considerably less likely" but uses "substantially" to stress the magnitude of difference.

significantly less probable

Highlights the importance of the difference in probability.

noticeably less likely

Indicates that the reduced likelihood is easily observed or apparent.

markedly less probable

Suggests a distinct and clear difference in probability.

appreciably less likely

Implies that the reduction in likelihood is measurable or considerable.

decidedly less probable

Conveys a sense of certainty about the reduced probability.

distinctly less likely

Similar to "decidedly less probable" but emphasizes the clearness of the difference.

somewhat less probable

Indicates a moderate reduction in likelihood, less emphatic than "far less probable".

slightly less likely

Suggests a small or marginal decrease in probability.

FAQs

How do you use "far less probable" in a sentence?

Use "far less probable" to emphasize a significant difference in the likelihood of two events, such as, "Given the safety measures, an accident is "far less probable" than a successful operation."

What are some alternatives to "far less probable"?

Alternatives include "significantly less likely", "considerably less probable", or "much less likely". The choice depends on the desired degree of emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "far less probable" versus "less probable"?

"Far less probable" is used to emphasize a substantial difference in likelihood, while "less probable" indicates a smaller, possibly marginal, difference. Use "far less probable" when you want to strongly convey that one outcome is significantly less likely than another.

Is "far less probable" the same as "improbable"?

No, "improbable" suggests something is unlikely but still possible, while ""far less probable"" compares the likelihood of one thing to another, indicating a significant difference in their respective chances of occurring. "Improbable" suggests a low absolute probability, while ""far less probable"" is relative.