less chance

USAGE SUMMARY

"less chance" is a grammatically acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where the probability of something occurring is lower than normal, for example: "The students, who had failed the exam, had less chance of getting into the college."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That means there's less chance of contamination.

The New York Times - Food

There is less chance of injury.

The New York Times

In giving you less chance to fail, incubators also give you less chance to succeed.

The New York Times

It gives the artist less chance to experiment".

The New York Times

There is now less chance of upside potential.

The New York Times

The more national interests the less chance of finding agreement.

Independent

There's less chance of us throwing it away".

The Guardian - Music

If they're disabled, they've got even less chance".

The Guardian - Sport

There is less fear and less chance of a caesarean".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Without it, smaller voices have less chance of being heard.

The Guardian - Tech

"We have less chance of making it than some of these other islands here, but there'll be less chance of Japs, too".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, consider quantifying the "chance" using percentages or fractions to provide a clearer understanding of the probability involved.

Common error

Remember that "less" is generally used with uncountable nouns, while "fewer" is used with countable nouns. While "chance" can sometimes be used countably, in most contexts implying probability, "less chance" is correct. However, if you are referring to multiple distinct opportunities, use "fewer chances".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less chance" functions as a modifier, typically used to express a lower probability or reduced opportunity for a specific event or outcome. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this function across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

31%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less chance" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a reduced probability or opportunity. Ludwig AI validates this through numerous examples across diverse domains, including news, science, and general writing. While grammatically correct, it's important to differentiate its use from "fewer chances", which applies to countable opportunities. When aiming for more precise communication, consider quantifying the chance or exploring synonyms like "lower probability" or "reduced likelihood". The phrase maintains a generally neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lower probability

Replaces "chance" with "probability", emphasizing the statistical aspect of the reduced likelihood.

slim chance

Indicates a very small chance, highlighting the unlikelihood of something occurring.

reduced likelihood

Substitutes "chance" with "likelihood", presenting a more formal alternative.

minimal opportunity

Focuses on the scarcity of opportunity rather than the probability of success.

decreased possibility

Replaces "chance" with "possibility", offering a slightly more formal tone.

slight hope

Emphasizes the small amount of hope remaining, implying a low probability of success.

limited prospect

Highlights the restricted nature of the prospect or outlook.

rare opportunity

Stresses the infrequency with which the opportunity arises.

unlikely scenario

Shifts the focus to the scenario itself being improbable.

remote possibility

Indicates that the possibility is distant or unlikely to occur.

FAQs

How can I use "less chance" in a sentence?

You can use "less chance" to indicate a reduced probability or opportunity for something to occur. For instance, "If you study diligently, you have "less chance" of failing the exam."

What are some alternatives to saying "less chance"?

Alternatives to "less chance" include "lower probability", "reduced likelihood", or "minimal opportunity", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "less chance" versus "fewer chances"?

"Less chance" is used when referring to a general probability, while "fewer chances" is used when referring to a specific number of opportunities. For example, "There is "less chance" of rain today," but "You have "fewer chances" to win the lottery."

Is "less chance" grammatically correct?

Yes, "less chance" is grammatically correct when referring to a reduced probability or likelihood. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples of its usage across different sources.