highly unlikely that

USAGE SUMMARY

"highly unlikely that" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is highly improbable. For example: "It is highly unlikely that the current president will be re-elected in the next election."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Highly unlikely; that would require changing recruitment practices altogether.

TechCrunch

It's highly unlikely that I'll be able to play".

The New York Times - Sports

"We think it is highly unlikely that he has Ebola.

The Guardian

It is highly unlikely that this bothered him.

The Guardian - Sport

It's highly unlikely that any outsider could pull this off".

The New York Times

First, it is highly unlikely that anyone will win.

The New York Times - Tech

It is highly unlikely that Green's yacht will be seized.

The Guardian - Business

But it is highly unlikely that he will play.

The Guardian - Sport

It remains highly unlikely that Trump's objections will succeed.

The Guardian

It seemed highly unlikely that Tanweer had been radicalised here.

The Guardian

It seems highly unlikely that you can make a stutterer.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly unlikely that" to express a strong degree of improbability, but avoid overusing it in formal writing. Consider alternatives for variety.

Common error

Avoid using redundant adverbs. For example, phrases like "very highly unlikely that" are unnecessarily repetitive; "highly unlikely that" is sufficient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly unlikely that" functions as an adverbial clause introducer, modifying a verb or clause by expressing a strong degree of improbability or doubt. Ludwig shows that it commonly precedes a statement expressing a prediction or expectation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

13%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highly unlikely that" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a strong sense of improbability. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is perfectly acceptable in written English. It's frequently encountered in news and media, academic papers, and scientific literature. While highly versatile, writers should avoid redundant phrasing and consider alternative expressions to maintain variety. By understanding its function, purpose, and register, you can effectively incorporate "highly unlikely that" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particularly unlikely that

Emphasizes a specific reason for the improbability.

extraordinarily unlikely that

Intensifies the degree of improbability.

exceptionally unlikely that

Highlights the exceptional nature of the improbability.

incredibly unlikely that

Uses "incredibly" to amplify the unlikelihood.

exceedingly unlikely that

Similar to "extraordinarily" but with a slightly different tone.

highly doubtful that

Expresses strong doubt about the possibility.

highly improbable that

Replaces "unlikely" with the more formal "improbable".

highly impossible that

Replaces "unlikely" with "impossible" for stronger emphasis.

highly uncertain that

Focuses on the uncertainty surrounding the event.

highly unexpected that

Shifts focus to the element of surprise if it were to occur.

FAQs

How can I use "highly unlikely that" in a sentence?

You can use "highly unlikely that" to express a strong degree of improbability. For instance, "It's highly unlikely that the project will be completed on time."

What are some alternatives to "highly unlikely that"?

Alternatives include "particularly unlikely that", "extraordinarily unlikely that", or "highly doubtful that", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "very highly unlikely that"?

While understandable, "very highly unlikely that" is somewhat redundant. It's generally better to simply use "highly unlikely that" for a more concise expression of improbability.

What's the difference between "unlikely that" and "highly unlikely that"?

"Unlikely that" suggests a general improbability, whereas "highly unlikely that" indicates a much stronger degree of improbability, almost to the point of being considered impossible.