left to chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left to chance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is not certain or controlled, and is instead subject to the whims of luck or fate. For example: "Since our plan isn't working, it looks like we'll have to leave the final outcome to chance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

No detail was left to chance.

The Economist

Still, no detail was left to chance.

The New York Times

Still, nothing was left to chance.

The New York Times - Sports

This is never left to chance.

The New York Times

Very little was left to chance.

The New York Times

Not much was being left to chance.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Elections are too important not to leave to chance.

University of California, Berkeley

They are too important to leave to chance.

Harvard Business Review

It's too important an issue to leave to chance.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's too important to leave to chance.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

However, that's not something to leave to chance.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional contexts, this phrase effectively highlights meticulous planning and high-quality preparation.

Common error

Avoid using "left by chance" when you mean an outcome is uncertain. "By chance" usually describes an accidental encounter (e.g., "We met by chance"), whereas "left to chance" describes a situation where an outcome is not being controlled.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left to chance" functions as a passive idiomatic construction. As verified by Ludwig, it often follows a negative subject like "nothing" or "little" to serve as a predicate adjective phrase emphasizing control and precision. In many cases, it follows the verb "to be", acting as a complement to the subject.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

6%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "left to chance" is an exceptionally reliable and professional expression used to describe the extent of planning or control in a given situation. Based on Ludwig AI data, it is most frequently used in the negative—"nothing was "left to chance""—to signal excellence, safety, or extreme attention to detail. It is widely supported by high-authority sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, making it a safe and effective choice for both journalistic and academic writing. When you use it, you are effectively contrasting human preparation against the unpredictability of fate, often to build trust with your reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

left to fate

Suggests a more mystical or pre-determined lack of control compared to pure randomness.

left to luck

More informal and implies that the outcome depends on a positive or negative stroke of fortune.

up to chance

A common prepositional variation that shifts the focus to the state of uncertainty.

subject to chance

More descriptive and analytical, often used in scientific or technical contexts.

left at the mercy of chance

Adds an emotional or dramatic weight, suggesting a lack of agency.

left to serendipity

Connotes a focus on positive, happy accidents rather than general uncertainty.

given to chance

Implies an active surrender or delegation of an outcome to random forces.

left to random

Less idiomatic but occasionally used in statistical or computing environments.

left for fortune

A more archaic or literary way of expressing dependency on future events.

left unmanaged

Focuses on the lack of human intervention or supervision rather than the concept of chance.

FAQs

How do I use "left to chance" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe planning, such as: "Nothing in the design was "left to chance" to ensure user safety." Check out more examples from "nothing was left to chance" or "very little was left to chance".

What can I say instead of "left to chance"?

Depending on your tone, you could use "left to luck" for general situations or "left to fate" for more dramatic contexts.

Is "left to chance" suitable for academic writing?

Yes, it is frequently used in high-level journals. For instance, researchers might state that a certain outcome was "not left to chance" during a controlled experiment.

What is the difference between "left to chance" and "up to chance"?

While very similar, "left to chance" often implies a passive state where something is abandoned to uncertainty, whereas "up to chance" is often used to describe the current status of a decision.