if likely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if likely" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you are speculating about the probability of an event occurring, but it is better to use a more complete phrase. Example: "The project will proceed if likely to receive funding."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

And failure, even if likely, would not be especially costly.

The New York Times - Magazine

(IF LIKELY) Do you think there's been solid evidence of that, or is it your suspicion only?

The Washington Post

Into this mix came a gang of unlikely heroes (one wonders if likely heroes ever bother to do anything these days).

The Guardian - Books

Second, it seems infeasible to assess this impact by means of rigorous experimental studies since sample size would become extremely high if likely threats to validity and power are properly taken into account.

International Journal of Nursing Studies

But there were reservations: this concession should not be exploited by politicians, and would not be allowed if likely to cause internal difficulties.

The Economist

Asked by the Guardian if likely lengthy appeal process and the opposition of mayoral candidates meant that realistically the legislation was unlikely to be introduced, Bloomberg issued a rallying cry to the would-be-mayors.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Both F11-t5 and F11-t4 displayed comparable rates of uncatalyzed formation of Sp-IF likely due to transient access of the toehold.

ACS Synthetic Biology

The shortfall could balloon to $50 bil-lion or more if likely-to-fail plans actually bite the dust.

Forbes

If we're following this trajectory, it certainly seems possible, if not likely.

Forbes

But there is also a darker, if less likely possibility.

The Economist

And China's currency is, if anything, likely to rise.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "if likely" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "if it is likely" or "if probable".

Common error

Avoid condensing conditional statements in a grammatically awkward way. Instead of saying "if likely", ensure the phrase includes a subject and verb for clarity, such as "if it is likely".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if likely" functions as a conditional conjunction, attempting to set a condition based on the probability of an event. However, its non-standard grammatical structure makes it less effective than alternative phrasing. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase is not standard and suggests more complete alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "if likely" attempts to establish a conditional statement based on probability. However, as highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically non-standard and can lead to confusion. Its usage frequency is uncommon, appearing primarily in news and scientific contexts, but its informal register makes it unsuitable for formal writing. Better alternatives include "if it is likely" or "if probable", which offer clarity and grammatical correctness. While various authoritative sources use the phrase, opting for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives improves the quality and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if probable

Replaces "likely" with a synonym that clearly indicates a high chance of occurrence.

if expected

Substitutes "likely" with a word suggesting anticipation or a reasonable prediction.

if there is a good chance

Expands the phrase to more explicitly state the probability of an event.

in the event that it is likely

Adds formality and explicitly frames the condition.

should it be likely

Uses a more formal and somewhat inverted structure to express the condition.

if it seems probable

Introduces an element of subjective assessment regarding the likelihood.

if it is highly possible

Emphasizes the possibility with the adverb "highly".

if it has a high probability

Specifies the presence of a high probability using a more technical term.

provided it is likely

Uses "provided" to set a precondition based on likelihood.

assuming it is likely

Uses "assuming" to express the condition based on an assumption of likelihood.

FAQs

What does "if likely" mean?

The phrase "if likely" is a non-standard construction that attempts to combine a conditional conjunction with an adverb of probability. It's generally interpreted to mean "if it is likely" or "if there is a high probability".

How can I use "if probable" instead of "if likely"?

Use "if probable" in sentences where you want to express a condition based on a high degree of likelihood: "The project will proceed if probable to receive funding".

Is "if likely" grammatically correct?

No, "if likely" is not considered grammatically correct. It's better to use phrases like "if it is likely" or "if probable" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

What's a more formal alternative to "if likely"?

A more formal alternative would be "in the event that it is likely" or "should it be likely". These phrases add a degree of formality and precision to the conditional statement.