likely we could

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "likely we could" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when suggesting a possibility or probability, but it is better to rephrase for clarity. Example: "If the weather permits, likely we could go for a hike this weekend."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It’s also likely we could see states lobby Congress for legislation safeguarding the dual tax system.

Forbes

Most likely, we could only reduce, but not eliminate, the influence of age and physical attributes with our recording settings (see Fig.  1).

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Therefore, likely, we could improve the genomic stability of iPSCs through regulation of the DNA damage repair response to reduce the risk of tumor formation prior to use in clinical therapy.

Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics

Since the study did not report on other levels of acceptability, such as "somewhat likely", "likely" or "very likely", we could not infer whether this is reflective of actual acceptability of HIVST among MSM [ 49].

AIDS and Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

This situation makes it likely that we could see a repeat of the 2000 election, which is something that shouldn't be wished on "we the people".

The New York Times

It is not very likely that we could emulate that in captivity.

BBC

If it becomes a standard feature, and it likely will, we could see Treos hitting T-Mobile soon.

TechCrunch

"It's likely that we could even pour in some $10BN or more if we find the deployments are very successful or can really generate results".

TechCrunch

"It is therefore likely that we could see fewer British retirees settling in France if overall tax rates go up unduly," he added.

BBC

"With no sign that Opec will do anything about over-production, it seems likely that we could well see further declines towards $40 in the coming weeks," said CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson.

BBC

He added: "This particular rainfall is due to peter out during the early hours of the morning but it's quite possible that further rain will fall over the next few days and because the ground is already saturated and the rivers already high, then it's quite likely that we could see other flood situations develop over the coming days and weeks".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clearer and more impactful writing, consider replacing "likely we could" with phrases like "we could probably" or "it is likely that we could". These alternatives offer better flow and are more commonly used.

Common error

Avoid using "likely we could" in formal writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound unnatural. Opt for more standard phrasing to enhance readability and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "likely we could" functions as an adverbial modifier expressing a degree of probability or possibility regarding a future action or outcome. It indicates that there is a reasonable chance or expectation that something will happen.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "likely we could" expresses a moderate probability or potential for a future action. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI suggests that it isn't the most polished phrasing, and more common alternatives such as "we could probably" or "it is likely that we could" may provide greater clarity and impact. Usage is infrequent and divided between scientific and news contexts. To improve your writing, consider rephrasing for enhanced flow and professionalism, particularly in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

probably we could

Replaces "likely" with "probably", indicating a slightly higher degree of certainty.

it's probable that we could

Adds a more formal tone and emphasizes the probability.

it is likely that we could

Inserts "it is" for a slightly more formal and grammatically standard construction.

we could potentially

Replaces "likely" with "potentially", focusing on the possibility rather than probability.

we might be able to

Uses "might be able to" to express possibility and capability.

we could conceivably

Emphasizes that something is imaginable or possible.

it's conceivable that we could

Similar to above, but puts more weight on "conceivable".

we could foreseeably

Suggests that something can be predicted or anticipated.

we could reasonably

Indicates that an action or outcome is logical and expected under the circumstances.

we would likely be able to

Expresses a conditional likelihood with an emphasis on ability.

FAQs

What's a more common way to say "likely we could"?

More common alternatives include "we could probably", "it is likely that we could", or "we might be able to", depending on the context.

Is "likely we could" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "likely we could" is an unconventional phrasing. It's often perceived as awkward and can be improved by reordering the words or using a synonym like "probably".

In what situations is "likely we could" acceptable?

The phrase might be acceptable in informal conversations, but it's generally advisable to use more standard phrasing in formal writing or professional communications. Better options are "we could potentially" or "it's probable that we could".

How can I improve the flow of a sentence using "likely we could"?

Reordering the words can significantly improve the sentence's flow. For instance, "we could likely" or "we would likely be able to" are often better choices.