floated the possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

'floated the possibility' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an idea that was suggested as a potential option. For example, "The politician floated the possibility of introducing a new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After that, Varane's advisers have floated the possibility that he could go on loan to another club, possibly Paris Saint-Germain, next season.

The Guardian - Sport

King even floated the possibility of moving the BBC's main news hub out of London.

The Guardian

He then floated the possibility of constituting an official commission to study the question.

The Guardian

She also floated the possibility of the final decisions being linked to international benchmarks.

The Guardian

Farah also floated the possibility of a rare 10,000m-marathon double at Rio 2016.

The Guardian - Sport

A few days ago, the Trump Administration floated the possibility of a nationalized 5G wireless communication network.

University of California, Berkeley

Banks floated the possibility of pleading guilty to the misdemeanor charges, which carried a significantly lower risk of jail time.

The New York Times - Magazine

A week later, we told Dr. Kahn about Shane's story and floated the possibility of following the same course.

The New York Times - Magazine

Hatches are tolerated – but earlier this year German ministers floated the possibility of a new "legal framework for confidential births".

The Guardian

House Minority Leader John Boehner, to his great credit, recently floated the possibility of means-testing Social Security.

The New York Times

"Did they have ordination or no?" He then floated the possibility of constituting an official commission to study the question.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "floated the possibility" when you want to introduce an idea or suggestion in a tentative or exploratory manner. It implies that the idea is being presented for consideration without strong commitment.

Common error

While "floated the possibility" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal writing. In these contexts, consider more direct and assertive alternatives like "proposed" or "suggested" for greater impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "floated the possibility" functions as a verb phrase used to describe the act of suggesting or introducing an idea, plan, or option for consideration. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "floated the possibility" is a versatile phrase used to describe the act of suggesting an idea or option tentatively. It is deemed grammatically correct and sees frequent usage, particularly in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI validates these observations with a multitude of real-world examples. While generally neutral in tone, more assertive alternatives may be preferred in highly formal settings. Consider using phrases like "raised the prospect", "suggested the potential", or "mentioned the possibility" to adjust the level of directness. When employing this phrase, ensure it aligns with the context, avoiding overuse in excessively formal writing where more direct language may be more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mentioned the possibility

A straightforward alternative that simply indicates the idea was brought up in conversation.

raised the prospect

Replaces "floated" with a more direct term, emphasizing the introduction of an idea for consideration.

suggested the potential

Uses "suggested" instead of "floated", making the action of introducing the idea more explicit.

broached the idea

Focuses on initiating the discussion of an idea, often implying it was a sensitive or new topic.

mooted the option

A more formal alternative to "floated", suggesting a preliminary discussion of an option.

hinted at the chance

Implies a subtle suggestion or indication of a possibility, rather than a direct proposal.

considered the option

Shifts the focus to the act of thinking about a possible course of action.

explored the feasibility

Focuses on examining whether something is possible or practical.

entertained the thought

Suggests considering an idea, often in a less serious or committed way.

advanced the proposition

Presents an idea or plan for consideration, often in a formal setting.

FAQs

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

You can use "floated the possibility" to introduce a potential idea or action, such as, "The company "floated the possibility" of expanding into new markets next year."

What are some alternatives to "floated the possibility"?

Instead of "floated the possibility", you could use phrases like "raised the prospect", "suggested the potential", or "mentioned the possibility", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "floated the possibility" formal or informal?

"Floated the possibility" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more direct alternatives might be preferable in highly formal situations.

What does it mean to say someone "floated the possibility"?

To say someone ""floated the possibility"" means they introduced an idea or suggestion for consideration, often in a tentative or exploratory way, without necessarily committing to it.