improbable to think that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "improbable to think that" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate expression would be "unlikely to think that." Example: "It is unlikely to think that such a complex problem has a simple solution."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It's improbable to think that when the Trevorrows were growing up, it was, says George, "a fad to have a skull of an Abo on the mantelpiece".

The Guardian

"It is improbable to think that people's perceptions have been influenced solely by The World is Not Enough, but this film came after the Chernobyl disaster so the film was merely picking up on a real fear people have of nuclear power.

The Guardian

Moreover, despite a UN Security Council Resolution, it is improbable to think that Western legislative measures will definitively halt the growing number of foreign ISIL recruits in the immediate term.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's not just improbable it's also misunderstanding the entire conflict to think that way.

Vice

"Now all it takes is a strange, improbable deus-ex-machina to appear, and I think that can happen.

The New York Times

There's a lesson here, I think, that goes beyond improbable train-related emergencies to any contexts in which we're trying to predict how we'd respond to events: moral dilemmas, but also how we'd cope with a breakup or bereavement, whether we'd flourish or founder if we switched careers, whether we'd be happier moving to another city, and so on.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

American officials think that is improbable, given that Iran would invite an attack when it had no adequate means of deterrence.

The Economist

"This government is looking at every option but the simple truth is that if a requirement of membership is giving up control of our borders, I think that makes it very improbable".

The Guardian

May has so far refused to reveal the government's position on remaining in the single market, though the Brexit secretary, David Davis, told the House of Commons last week it was a "simple truth is that if a requirement of membership is giving up control of our borders, I think that makes it very improbable".

The Guardian

"This government is looking at every option but the simple truth is that if a requirement of membership is giving up control of our borders, I think that makes it very improbable," he said, during a debate that followed his statement updating colleagues on Brexit planning so far.

The Guardian

The Brexit secretary, David Davis, who was asked if Britain could remain inside the single market, said earlier this week: "The simple truth is that if a requirement of membership is giving up control of our borders, I think that makes it very improbable".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "improbable to think that" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "it is unlikely to think that" or "it is hard to believe that".

Common error

The phrase "improbable to think that" incorrectly uses the preposition "to". A better structure is to rephrase using "it is improbable that" or "it is unlikely that".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improbable to think that" attempts to function as an expression of disbelief or skepticism. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically incorrect. The intended function is to convey that something is unlikely or hard to believe.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "improbable to think that" is considered grammatically incorrect, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. While it appears in some sources, particularly in news and media contexts, it's advisable to use more standard alternatives like "it is unlikely that" or "it's hard to believe that" for clarity and grammatical correctness. Due to its flawed structure and better alternative options, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unlikely to believe that

Replaces "improbable" with "unlikely", maintaining the core meaning of low probability but changes the word choice.

hard to imagine that

Substitutes "improbable" with "hard to imagine", shifting the expression from probability to conceptual difficulty.

difficult to conceive that

Replaces "improbable" with "difficult to conceive", emphasizing the struggle to form a mental picture.

it's questionable to think that

Uses "questionable" instead of "improbable", highlighting the uncertainty or doubt surrounding the thought.

it strains credulity to think that

Emphasizes that the thought is so unlikely that it challenges belief.

it's doubtful to assume that

Shifts from "think" to "assume", indicating a weaker level of conviction about an improbable event.

it's implausible to consider that

Swaps "improbable" with "implausible" and "think" with "consider", focusing on the lack of surface believability of the thought.

it seems improbable to suppose that

Replaces "think" with "suppose", suggesting a tentative or speculative consideration of the improbable idea.

one wouldn't think it likely that

Uses a more formal and indirect structure to express the improbability of something.

it's a stretch to believe that

Uses a colloquial expression, highlighting how hard is to believe in a specific thought.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically correct way to say "improbable to think that"?

The phrase "improbable to think that" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use "it is "unlikely that"" or "it is "hard to believe that"".

Is "improbable to think that" ever considered acceptable?

While some sources may use "improbable to think that", it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Sticking to established grammar rules will improve clarity and credibility.

What's the difference between "improbable to think that" and "unlikely that"?

"Improbable to think that" is not grammatically sound. "Unlikely that" is the correct way to express something is not likely to happen or be true.

Can I use "improbable to think that" in academic writing?

It is strongly recommended to avoid using "improbable to think that" in academic or formal writing. Use grammatically correct and clear alternatives such as "it is "hard to believe that"" or "it is "unlikely that"".