less likelihood

USAGE SUMMARY

"less likelihood" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is unlikely or has a low probability of occurring. For example, "The forecasted weather trend indicated less likelihood of precipitation this week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Less likelihood of cocktail party dust-ups with ticked-off boyfriends and suspicious agents.

The New York Times - Books

Instead, releases are usually "stripped down" to pose less likelihood of triggering a discussion or negotiation.

Stanford University

The more transformative the secondary use, the less likelihood that the secondary use substitutes for the original.

Harvard University

This results in better and more consistent surface finish of the final workpiece and less likelihood for premature tool breakage.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Since beetles do not suck plant juices as plant-sucking insects (Homoptera) do, there is less likelihood of disease transmission.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The further away an infection is from the ovaries and uterus, the less likelihood it has of causing dysfunctional bleeding.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Falling prices tend to discourage economic activity because businesses see less likelihood of earning high returns if they have to cut prices.

The New York Times

"It's problematic, but there is less likelihood that they will stall with the new modules," said Jeff Fazio, the lead lawyer in the case against Ford.

The New York Times

The key factor in making a good recovery from a stroke is speed: the sooner a patient is treated, the less likelihood there is of permanent damage.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For well-known books, negative publicity resulted in less likelihood of purchase, whether participants reported their preferences right away or after a delay.

Stanford University

New entrants often value talking to other novice teachers because they feel that there is less likelihood of being negatively judged.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, quantify "less likelihood" with specific probabilities or percentages to provide concrete context. For example, instead of saying "There's less likelihood of rain", specify "There's a 20% chance of rain."

Common error

Avoid using "less likelihood" when you mean something is impossible. "Less likelihood" indicates a reduced probability, not a zero probability. Use phrases like "no chance" or "impossible" to express complete certainty of non-occurrence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less likelihood" functions as a noun phrase that quantifies and expresses the reduced probability or chance of an event occurring. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

32%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less likelihood" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to indicate a reduced probability or chance of an event. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. It appears most often in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. To enhance clarity, consider quantifying the reduced probability with specific percentages. While "less likelihood" is a common expression, remember that it indicates reduced probability and not impossibility. For alternative expressions, consider "lower probability" or "reduced chance".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lower probability

Replaces "likelihood" with its direct synonym "probability", maintaining the meaning of reduced chance.

reduced chance

Substitutes "likelihood" with "chance" and "less" with "reduced", emphasizing the diminished possibility.

smaller possibility

Uses "possibility" instead of "likelihood" and "smaller" instead of "less", keeping the core meaning intact.

decreased prospect

Employs "prospect" as a synonym for "likelihood" and "decreased" for "less", indicating a diminished expectation.

slight chance

Replaces "less" with "slight", emphasizing a minimal possibility.

minimal risk

Shifts the focus to "risk" while still indicating a low probability of something negative occurring.

limited potential

Highlights the restricted possibility of something developing or succeeding.

rare possibility

Expresses the infrequency of an event or occurrence.

unlikely event

Focuses on the low probability of a specific event happening.

remote chance

Indicates that the probability of something occurring is distant or improbable.

FAQs

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

You can use "less likelihood" to describe a situation where the probability of something happening is reduced. For example, "With the new security measures, there is "less likelihood" of a data breach."

What are some alternatives to "less likelihood"?

Some alternatives to "less likelihood" include "lower probability", "reduced chance", or "smaller possibility". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less likelihood"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Less" is used to indicate a smaller amount of something uncountable, and "likelihood" is an uncountable noun. Ludwig AI confirms this as well.

What's the difference between "less likelihood" and "unlikely"?

"Less likelihood" describes a situation where the probability is reduced compared to a previous state. "Unlikely" simply states that something has a low probability of occurring, without necessarily implying a comparison. You can use them interchangeably in most cases but "less likelihood" is more specific.