is probable to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is probable to" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate phrase would be "is likely to." Example: "It is likely to rain tomorrow."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

At the construction stage, it is probable to use a connection component with a thickness less than the design assumptions.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

In Aridisols containing a calcic horizon, it is probable to have saline spots over poorly permeable caliche.

Landscape and Urban Planning

If this value is high, it is probable to see cracks on concrete road.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

The high density of HA is probable to enhance the chances for viral attachment.

Protein & Cell

Also, during the compaction tests, it is probable to crushed the CG under hammer load.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

If so, we might say that despite its ungrammaticality 'John is probable to leave' means (roughly) the same as 'John is likely to leave.' 13.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Despite several potential advantages of QCA-based designs over conventional CMOS logic, some deposition defects are probable to occur in QCA-based systems which have necessitated fault-tolerant structures.

Microelectronics Journal

The results show that the HF(OH −(H2O n−1 structures are probable to be global minima for X = F.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

For instance, nearby receivers are probable to experience very similar shadow fadings, i.e., their shadow fadings are correlated.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Such differences are probable to find in a good quality picture, without X-rays and unnecessary shadows on the face.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

The methods provide a basis for practitioners and pharmacologists to identify distinctive interactions and the region of chemical space that they are probable to be observed in.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is likely to" as a direct replacement for "is probable to" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. For example, instead of "It is probable to rain", write "It is likely to rain".

Common error

Avoid using "is probable to" altogether. While "probable" and "likely" are synonyms, "probable" doesn't work well in this construction. Instead of trying to make it work, just use the readily available and correct phrase "is likely to."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is probable to" functions as a linking verb followed by an adjective aiming to express a degree of likelihood or expectation. However, according to Ludwig, this construction is ungrammatical. A more correct way to express a similar meaning is with "is likely to".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

32%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is probable to" attempts to convey likelihood or expectation, however, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect according to Ludwig. While examples can be found in various sources, including Science, News & Media, and Academia, it's advisable to use the more standard and grammatically correct alternative, "is likely to". Other options, depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey, include "is expected to" or "is anticipated to". Using "is likely to" will ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is likely to

Direct synonym replacement; this is the most common and grammatically correct alternative.

is expected to

Implies a degree of anticipation or prediction, suggesting a reasonable basis for the expectation.

is anticipated to

Similar to 'is expected to', but often carries a slightly more formal tone.

is prone to

Suggests a tendency or susceptibility to something, often negative.

is inclined to

Implies a predisposition or leaning towards a particular outcome or action.

is apt to

Indicates a natural tendency or likelihood, often based on inherent qualities.

has a good chance of

Expresses a positive likelihood of something occurring.

is liable to

Suggests a possibility, often with negative connotations, implying responsibility or obligation.

it is within the realm of possibility that

Expresses a more remote possibility, emphasizing that something could happen, though not necessarily likely.

it stands to reason that

Indicates that something is logically probable, based on available information.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "is probable to"?

The phrase "is likely to" is a grammatically correct and widely accepted alternative to "is probable to". It conveys the same meaning of something having a good chance of happening or being true.

Is "is probable to" considered correct in formal writing?

No, "is probable to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. It's best to use "is likely to" or another similar phrase instead.

Can I use "is probable to" in informal conversations?

While you might encounter "is probable to" in some contexts, it's still advisable to use "is likely to" even in informal conversations for better clarity and grammatical accuracy.

What's the difference between "is probable to" and "is possible to"?

"Is possible to" indicates that something can happen, while the incorrect phrase "is probable to" (corrected to "is likely to") suggests that something has a good chance of happening. Likelihood implies a higher degree of certainty than possibility.