it is rather possible that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is rather possible that" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when expressing a degree of possibility, but it is better to use more standard phrases. Example: "It is rather possible that the event will be postponed due to the weather conditions."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It is rather possible that the operational procedure for colorectal cancer, according to local standards, does not cause significant bacteremia.

Disease Markers

However, given their important roles in nucleotide pool maintenance and DNA repair (Hasan et al, 2001), it is rather possible that downregulation of these two genes upon HDAC inhibition could cause further impairment in DNA repair.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

While this could indicate a higher responsiveness of certain tumours to trastuzumab, it is rather possible that this result would have been observed with lapatinib or chemotherapy alone as well.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It's rather that his realism about possible worlds, combined with his realism about set theory, makes it inevitable that he is committed to the existence of these entities.

SEP

The danger is not Fascism, as many say it is, but is, rather, that it is possible to come to power merely on slogans refuting current policy".

The New Yorker

Second, the sample size is rather small, and it is quite possible that various nonsignificant associations in multivariate analyses would have become statistically significant if larger samples were studied.

Diabetes Care

We believe that our medical records review for metastasis cases was rather comprehensive, while it is still possible that we misclassified or missed some metastases (e.g., men died before questionnaire was sent).

Plosone

Although their mechanisms of action are better known, it is still possible that lncRNAs are rather downstream products of particular chromatin structures or deregulated transcriptional processes.

BioMed Research International

Thus, it is highly possible that rather than promoting conventional membrane traffic in melanocytes Rab40C mediates recognition of Varp by a Cullin E3 ubiquitin ligase complex.

Biology Open

It is also possible that rather than a pure sensory role, that the substantial increase in brachiopod body size caused by the possession of these long, semi-rigid chaetae impeded ingestion and was a deterrent against predators, such as Ottoia.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Given the presence of AP-1 and Rab9 binding sites adjacent to the central bubble and the additional capacity of the splayed N-terminus to capture transport vesicles, it is also possible that rather than being held near GCC185's N-terminus, the vesicle could bind primarily near the bubble while still being enwrapped by the N-terminal arms.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, consider using more common alternatives like "it is quite possible that" or "it is likely that" for clearer and more natural-sounding writing.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on the word "rather" in formal contexts. While acceptable, frequent use can make your writing sound stilted. Opt for more concise and direct alternatives when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is rather possible that" functions as an epistemic modal, expressing a degree of possibility or likelihood. Ludwig examples show its use in academic and news contexts, but Ludwig AI suggests that more common alternatives might be preferable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is rather possible that" is a grammatically sound but somewhat uncommon way to express possibility. While Ludwig AI acknowledges its correctness, it suggests that alternatives like "it is quite possible that" or "it is likely that" may be more suitable for clearer and more natural-sounding writing. Ludwig examples from scientific and news sources illustrate its use, but its formality and less frequent appearance suggest considering context and audience when choosing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is quite possible that

Replaces "rather" with "quite", a more common intensifier.

it is entirely possible that

Substitutes "rather" with "entirely", emphasizing completeness of possibility.

it is highly possible that

Emphasizes a high degree of possibility.

it is likely that

Uses a simpler and more direct expression of possibility.

it is conceivable that

Suggests something is imaginable or believable.

it is plausible that

Indicates something has a reasonable basis or is believable.

it is imaginable that

Emphasizes the possibility of something being conceived or imagined.

it could be the case that

Expresses possibility in a more descriptive and less direct way.

there is a good chance that

Indicates a favorable probability of something happening.

it may well be that

Suggests a strong likelihood or probability.

FAQs

What does "it is rather possible that" mean?

The phrase "it is rather possible that" suggests that something is somewhat likely, although other possibilities exist. It is a more formal way of saying "it is quite possible" or "it is likely".

What are some alternatives to "it is rather possible that"?

You can use alternatives like "it is quite possible that", "it is likely that", or "it is entirely possible that" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "it is rather possible that" grammatically correct?

Yes, the phrase "it is rather possible that" is grammatically correct, but it is not as commonly used as other similar phrases. Ludwig AI notes that there are better alternatives.

When is it appropriate to use "it is rather possible that"?

While not incorrect, "it is rather possible that" might be suitable in formal writing where you want to express a degree of possibility without strong certainty. However, consider whether a more common phrase like "it is likely that" would be more effective.