likelihood of which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "likelihood of which" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific situation or event that has a certain probability or chance of occurring. Example: "The likelihood of which was discussed in the meeting last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Wright, who is having an up-and-down season, would have to avoid being traded, the likelihood of which has varied by the day.

The New York Times - Sports

Kings of Leon's fifth album, Come Around Sundown, came with two different covers – one featuring an orange palm tree scene from far away and one close up, both looking as though they were taken on plastic lens cameras (the likelihood of which is, of course, slim).

The Guardian - Music

And even if I were to go on some wild spending spree the likelihood of which is about the same as my getting pregnant at 50 it still isn't in my best interests to have overdraft protection.

Forbes

This, on some views, is essentially what happened with traditional design arguments — such arguments were the most reasonable available until Darwinian evolution provided a plausible (or better) alternative the details and likelihood of which were not previously anticipatable.

SEP

The detailed origin of this effect is presumably related to the possibility that when a triad is broken, the likelihood of which is enhanced by diversity, a second dyad is easily formed in G4.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

The drivers said in focus groups that the security threat from a suspicious item on the train was conditional on its being an actual explosive device the likelihood of which they rated as extremely low.

Urban Rail Transit

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Whilst the KL divergence is not computable, it is possible to derive a lower bound on the marginal likelihood, maximization of which minimizes the KL divergence (see e.g. Bishop, 2006).

Bioinformatics

Financial instability means a higher likelihood of divorce, which can be financially ruinous to women in particular.

The Guardian - Opinion

Crime goes up, diminishing the likelihood of punishment, which causes crime to rise again.

The New York Times

"Crime goes up, diminishing the likelihood of punishment, which causes crime to rise again," said Alejandro Hope, a former senior intelligence officer for Mexico.

The New York Times

Indeed, contingent liabilities must be discounted by their likelihood of materialization – which is easier said than done – and future liabilities should be taken into account only in so far as we can appreciate their cash impact.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "likelihood of which" to refer back to a specific event or situation previously mentioned, emphasizing its probability.

Common error

Ensure the "which" clearly refers to a specific, previously identified noun. Ambiguity can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "likelihood of which" functions as a relative clause, modifying a preceding noun or noun phrase by providing more information about its probability. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "likelihood of which" is a grammatically correct and usable relative clause that specifies the probability associated with a previously mentioned noun or noun phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, while the phrase is accurate, it tends toward formality and is most frequently found in scientific and news contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the "which" clearly refers to a specific and unambiguous referent to avoid confusion. Consider more informal alternatives like "chance of which" in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

probability of which

Replaces "likelihood" with "probability", maintaining the same grammatical structure.

chance of which

Substitutes "likelihood" with "chance", offering a more informal alternative.

the possibility of which

Emphasizes the potential for something to occur, using "possibility" instead of "likelihood".

the odds of which

Uses "odds" to indicate the ratio of success to failure, providing a slightly different nuance.

the prospect of which

Focuses on the expectation or anticipation of something happening.

the extent to which

Shifts the focus to the degree or magnitude of something rather than its probability.

the degree to which

Similar to "the extent to which", but emphasizes the measurable level of something.

the rate at which

Highlights the frequency or speed at which something occurs, rather than its mere possibility.

the frequency with which

Similar to "the rate at which", but more formal and emphasizes the repeated occurrence of something.

the measure of which

Focuses on quantifying or assessing something, rather than its probability.

FAQs

How can I use "likelihood of which" in a sentence?

Use "likelihood of which" to refer back to a specific situation previously mentioned. For example: "The company considered several expansion strategies, the "most promising of which" involved entering new markets."

What phrases are similar to "likelihood of which"?

Alternatives include "probability of which", "chance of which", or "possibility of which", depending on the desired level of formality and nuance.

Is "likelihood of which" formal or informal?

"Likelihood of which" tends to be more formal. In informal contexts, consider using "chance of which" or a simpler phrasing.

What's the difference between "likelihood of which" and "likelihood that"?

"Likelihood of which" refers back to a specific noun, while "likelihood that" introduces a clause. For example: "The risk was assessed, the "seriousness of which" was alarming" versus "The likelihood that the project would succeed was low".