historically possible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "historically possible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe events or scenarios that could have occurred based on historical context or circumstances. Example: "While it may seem unlikely, it is historically possible that such a meeting took place during that era."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

I often think that expectations are, in fact, beyond what has been historically possible: Were American reporters embedded with the Nazis or the Vietcong?

The New York Times

Harry Houdini and Archduke Franz Ferdinand This is but the cutest of many invented (but historically possible) encounters in EL Doctorow's Ragtime, set in New York in the early 20th century.

The Guardian - Books

Now because advertisers are becoming more willing to buy in, and consumers are showing little resistance to trying new publications, magazines like Maxim, published by Dennis USA, and Lucky from Condé Nast, a unit of Advance Publications, have a shot at making money much sooner than was historically possible.

The New York Times

Some things are not historically possible.

Forbes

Despite my personal beliefs on entrepreneurship being one of the main forces that provide Millennials with more power than ever historically possible, business ownership among Millennials is lower than it was in the late nineties.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

For certain firms, bundling capital raising with other undertakings in ways historically not possible may prove to be optimal.

Columbia University

By giving people the power to share, we are starting to see people make their voices heard on a different scale from what has historically been possible.

The Guardian - Tech

With equal parts Mason's cuteness and Page and Brin's triumphalism, he declared: By giving people the power to share, we are starting to see people make their voices heard on a different scale from what has historically been possible.

The New Yorker

In a letter to investors in 2012, Mark Zuckerberg wrote: By giving people the power to share, we are starting to see people make their voices heard on a different scale from what has historically been possible.

The New Yorker

If Europe wants to save not only its currency but also its economy, it must agree, first, to give its central bank the explicit authority to do what it takes, and then to negotiate a fresh and substantial reduction in the south's debt obligations to the sort of levels which it has historically been possible to service.

The Guardian - Opinion

This purportedly makes big data processing and analytics accessible to a much wider swath of developers than has historically been possible.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "historically possible", ensure that the context clearly establishes the specific historical period or conditions being referenced. For example, specify the era or relevant events that make the scenario plausible.

Common error

Avoid using "historically possible" without providing specific historical context. Instead of stating that something is "historically possible", provide concrete examples or references to the historical period that support the claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "historically possible" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating that something aligns with or could have occurred within a specific historical context. Ludwig provides examples illustrating its use in assessing the feasibility of past events.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "historically possible" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe events or scenarios that align with or could have occurred within a specific historical context. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It is most frequently found in news and academic sources. To use it effectively, always provide specific historical context to support your claims. While the phrase is relatively rare, it serves an important function in assessing historical feasibility and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feasible historically

Replaces "possible" with "feasible", emphasizing practicality within a historical context.

historically plausible

Substitutes "possible" with "plausible", highlighting believability based on historical evidence.

potentially historical

Replaces "possible" with "potential", suggesting an event could have occurred historically.

conceivable historically

Uses "conceivable" instead of "possible", indicating something imaginable within historical bounds.

historically credible

Emphasizes the believability of something within historical accounts by using "credible".

historically viable

Implies that something could have survived or succeeded given the historical conditions.

within the realm of historical possibility

Expands the phrase to explicitly state that something falls within the boundaries of historical possibility.

achievable in history

Focuses on whether something could have been accomplished or realized in a particular historical era.

historically within the bounds of reality

Highlights that the events align with the realities and constraints of a particular time period.

consistent with historical events

Suggests that an event or scenario aligns with the recorded occurrences of a period.

FAQs

How can I use "historically possible" in a sentence?

Use "historically possible" to describe events or scenarios that align with or could have occurred within a specific historical context. For example, "While unlikely, it is historically possible that such a meeting took place during that era".

What are some alternatives to saying "historically possible"?

You can use alternatives such as "feasible historically", "historically plausible", or "potentially historical" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "historically possible" or "historically plausible"?

Both "historically possible" and "historically plausible" are correct, but they emphasize different aspects. "Possible" indicates that something could have happened, while "plausible" suggests it is believable based on historical evidence.

What's the difference between "historically possible" and "theoretically possible"?

"Historically possible" refers to events or scenarios that could have occurred given the constraints and conditions of a specific historical period. "Theoretically possible", on the other hand, refers to events that could occur based on current scientific or theoretical understanding, regardless of historical context.