it is quite improbable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is quite improbable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing doubt or skepticism about the likelihood of a certain event or situation occurring. Example: "Given the circumstances, it is quite improbable that we will meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wikipedia

Plosone

SEP

Nanoscale Research Letters

The Washington Post

Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture

Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology

Independent

Huffington Post

The New York Times - Sports

The Guardian

Clinical Epigenetics

Forbes

Biology Direct

The New York Times - Magazine

The Economist

The New York Times

Applied Mathematical Modelling

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry

Los Angeles Times

Vice

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The CESS report noted that while this may be a possibility, it is quite improbable.

Wikipedia

Thus, it is quite improbable that the cross-linking agent BS3 could have accessed this residue; therefore, assignments involving K310 of PTP-SL were eliminated.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If the 53rd roll comes up snake-eyes, this was hardly inevitable; in fact, it was quite improbable, only a 1 in 36 chance.

SEP

Chemical sputtering, i.e., production of CH, which is a second-order process (breaking of a carbon bond followed by capture of H by the carbon atom) here, is quite improbable, and its yield stays well below 0.005.

Nanoscale Research Letters

CfA astronomer Gongjie Li, lead author on the new star cluster study, agreed that this scenario is quite improbable.

The Washington Post

However, taking into account that the amount of plant-available Fe in Egozcue soil is quite high (Table 1), it is rather improbable that the Fe added with HA Trp in RP/ HA Trp) treatment can cause significant changes in plant growth.

Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture

None reacted positive, making the chance of having missed a slowly ongoing chronic encephalomyelitis very small: its existence in MS must be quite improbable.

Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology

It is one thing to win the FA Cup in improbable circumstances, it is quite another to defend it.

Independent

It is, quite simply, a moment of utterly improbable, instantaneous transformation.

Huffington Post

It is quite a comeback for Baghdatis, 25, who first charmed fans during an improbable run at the 2006 Australian Open.

The New York Times - Sports

But the mother-son-Katie triangle is quite frankly improbable.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add impact, follow "it is quite improbable" with a clear reason why something is unlikely. This strengthens your argument and makes your statement more convincing.

Common error

Avoid using overly formal phrases like "it is quite improbable" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for more natural alternatives to maintain a conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is quite improbable" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a judgment about the likelihood of an event or situation. It signals that, according to Ludwig AI, the speaker or writer believes something is unlikely but not necessarily impossible. The inclusion of "quite" intensifies the improbability, though not to the degree of "highly" or "extremely."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

46%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is quite improbable" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express doubt or skepticism about the likelihood of an event. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as functioning as an evaluative statement within a neutral register. It is most frequently found in news and scientific contexts. While the phrase is valid, its relatively low frequency suggests that more common alternatives, such as "it is highly unlikely" or "it is very unlikely", might be more suitable for everyday use. Remember to always consider your audience and the context when choosing your wording.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is highly unlikely

Replaces "quite improbable" with "highly unlikely", suggesting a stronger degree of doubt.

it is very unlikely

Substitutes "quite improbable" with "very unlikely", indicating a significant level of doubt.

it is scarcely likely

Uses "scarcely likely" instead of "quite improbable", implying a minimal chance of occurrence.

it is improbable

Omits "quite" for a slightly less emphatic statement of improbability.

it is hardly possible

Replaces the entire phrase with "it is hardly possible", conveying a similar sense of unlikelihood.

it is doubtful

Uses "doubtful" to express uncertainty about the likelihood of something.

it is far-fetched

Employs "far-fetched" to suggest that something is unlikely due to being unrealistic or implausible.

the odds are stacked against it

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey that the chances of success are low.

it defies possibility

Uses "defies possibility" instead of "quite improbable", suggesting something is impossible.

it isn't a snowball's chance in hell

Replaces the entire phrase with an idiomatic expression indicating no chance at all.

FAQs

What does "it is quite improbable" mean?

The phrase "it is quite improbable" means that something is unlikely to happen or is doubtful. It expresses a degree of uncertainty or skepticism about an event or situation.

How can I use "it is quite improbable" in a sentence?

You can use "it is quite improbable" to express your doubt about a certain outcome. For example, "Given the lack of resources, "it is quite improbable" that we will finish the project on time."

What are some alternatives to "it is quite improbable"?

Some alternatives to "it is quite improbable" include "it is highly unlikely", "it is very unlikely", or "it is doubtful". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of improbability you want to convey.

Is "it is quite improbable" formal or informal?

"It is quite improbable" leans towards the formal side. For less formal situations, consider using more common alternatives like "it is very unlikely" or "it is not likely".