hold the potential

USAGE SUMMARY

"hold the potential" is a perfectly grammatical and idiomatic sentence fragment that can be used in written English.
For example: This project could hold the potential to revolutionize the industry.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But taken together, they hold the potential to achieve national prominence.

The New York Times

That would hold the potential for giving borrowing nations more input and control of lending programs.

The New York Times

Distributed energy resources (DERs) hold the potential to deliver substantial benefits to the power system.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

They also believe that women hold the potential to achieve the state of liberation, or kevala.

Yale University

The two cases hold the potential to set the course of American politics for generations.

The New York Times

But the investments may also hold the potential for significant future strategic returns.

Harvard Business Review

Understanding the users who hold the potential for greatest damage is critical.

Harvard Business Review

Organic compounds with functional groups susceptible to hydrolysis hold the potential to become thermo-sensitive tracers.

Geothermics

Custom-designed ligand-binding proteins with novel functions hold the potential for numerous applications.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology

Importantly, functional imaging biomarkers hold the potential to evaluate tumour heterogeneity/biology both spatially and temporally.

Clinical Oncology

Both systems combine well-established hard coating materials and hold the potential for nanocomposite formation.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hold the potential" when you want to emphasize the inherent capacity of something to develop or achieve a particular outcome. For example, "This technology holds the potential to revolutionize healthcare."

Common error

Avoid using "hold the potential" when the possibility is highly speculative or lacks a solid foundation. Instead, use phrases like "might" or "could" to indicate a lower degree of certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold the potential" functions as a verbal phrase indicating inherent capacity or possibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct and widely used. Examples from Ludwig show it describing capabilities of technologies, research, and even individuals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hold the potential" is a widely used and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that something has the capacity for future development or success. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s considered correct and appropriate for use across various contexts. Primarily found in scientific, news, and business writing, the phrase conveys anticipation and expectation. While alternatives like "offer prospects" or "present opportunities" exist, "hold the potential" emphasizes inherent capacity. Remember to avoid overstating potential in situations where the possibility is purely speculative. Overall, "hold the potential" is a valuable phrase for describing possibilities in a considered and authoritative manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have possibilities

Emphasizes the existence of multiple potential outcomes or developments.

contain promise

Focuses on the hopeful or positive expectations associated with something's potential.

possess capability

Emphasizes the inherent ability or power that something has.

offer prospects

Focuses on the future possibilities that something presents, rather than its inherent ability.

present opportunities

Highlights the chances or openings that something provides, emphasizing action.

show capacity

Highlights the demonstrated ability or aptitude of something.

harbor possibilities

Implies that something contains hidden or not immediately obvious potential.

suggest future development

Directly points to the likelihood of growth or progress.

embody latent capacity

Indicates that something has an untapped or undeveloped ability.

are pregnant with possibilities

Suggests a wealth of potential outcomes, often with a sense of anticipation.

FAQs

How can I use "hold the potential" in a sentence?

Use "hold the potential" to describe something that has a capacity for future development or success. For example, "This research holds the potential to cure many diseases."

What are some alternatives to "hold the potential"?

You can use alternatives like "offer prospects", "present opportunities", or "have possibilities" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "has potential" or "hold the potential"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "hold the potential" emphasizes the capacity to develop or achieve something significant, while "has potential" is a more general statement of possibility.

What does it mean when something is described as 'holding potential'?

It means that something has the inherent qualities or characteristics that make it likely to develop, succeed, or become important in the future. For example, a new technology "hold the potential" to solve a pressing problem.