limited prospects

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "limited prospects" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an opportunity being constrained or small in size. For example: "The young graduate faced limited prospects in the current job market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

People without skills really do have limited prospects in the world.

The New York Times - Magazine

C) Both Berlusconi and Letta expressed concern about the limited prospects for economic growth in 2010.

The Guardian

In all, it would be an elaborate plan with limited prospects of success.

The Guardian

The Mac alone, however, would have left Apple with limited prospects in a Windows world.

The Guardian - Tech

What's more, energy is generally a mature industry with limited prospects for growth.

MIT Technology Review

The limited prospects for prosecution have led some to pursue other kinds of justice.

The New York Times

Increasingly, the only employment available is temporary agency work, often with limited prospects or benefits.

Independent

But it has become outmoded, not only because of the extremely limited prospects and forces for revolutionary change.

The Guardian - Opinion

Currently, most of their commercial lending is to small businesses, an area with limited prospects for growth.

The New York Times

But others say it means more limited prospects for genomics companies and less of a cornucopia for drug companies.

The New York Times

Cattaraugus, nestled in the woods of the misleadingly named Rich Valley, is a town of limited prospects.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms such as "narrow opportunities" or "meager possibilities" to add variety to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "limited prospects" without providing context. Saying something has "limited prospects" is vague. Specify the area in which prospects are limited to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "limited prospects" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase modifying a noun. It qualifies a situation or entity by indicating a restriction or scarcity of positive opportunities or future possibilities. Ludwig AI confirms this based on numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "limited prospects" is a commonly used phrase that signifies a scarcity or restriction of positive opportunities or future possibilities. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability, with notable usage across News & Media, Scientific, and Formal & Business contexts. While the phrase is versatile, maintaining clarity by specifying the area to which the prospects are limited enhances its impact. Alternatives such as "narrow opportunities" or "bleak outlook" can be used to diversify writing while retaining the core meaning. Ultimately, "limited prospects" serves as a concise way to convey a constrained or unfavorable outlook on future potential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

narrow opportunities

Replaces 'prospects' with 'opportunities' and 'limited' with 'narrow', focusing on the restricted availability.

meager possibilities

Substitutes 'prospects' with 'possibilities' and 'limited' with 'meager', emphasizing the scarcity of options.

slim chances

Replaces 'prospects' with 'chances' and 'limited' with 'slim', highlighting the low probability of success.

bleak outlook

Changes the phrase to focus on the overall 'outlook' rather than individual 'prospects', conveying a pessimistic future.

poor outlook

Emphasizes the unfavorable nature of the 'outlook', suggesting a lack of positive opportunities.

unpromising future

Shifts the focus to the 'future' and uses 'unpromising' to describe the lack of potential.

restricted potential

Replaces 'prospects' with 'potential' and 'limited' with 'restricted', emphasizing the constrained capacity for growth or development.

few opportunities

Focuses on the scarcity of available 'opportunities', directly indicating a lack of options.

scarce possibilities

Highlights the 'scarce' nature of available 'possibilities', suggesting a limited range of options.

dim prospects

Uses "dim" to indicate that the prospects are unlikely to lead to a positive outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "limited prospects" in a sentence?

You can use "limited prospects" to describe situations where opportunities or possibilities are scarce. For example: "The economic downturn led to "limited prospects" for recent graduates".

What are some alternatives to "limited prospects"?

Alternatives include "narrow opportunities", "slim chances", or "bleak outlook", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "limited prospects" or "few prospects"?

"Limited prospects" and "few prospects" are similar, but "limited prospects" often implies that the existing opportunities are also not very promising, while "few prospects" simply indicates a scarcity of opportunities.

What does it mean when someone says a town has "limited prospects"?

It means that the town likely has "few opportunities" for economic growth, employment, or improvement in quality of life for its residents.