markedly less likely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "markedly less likely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or outcome that has a significantly lower probability compared to another. Example: "In this study, participants who received the treatment were markedly less likely to experience side effects than those who did not."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

People over 55 are markedly less likely to be multitasking.

The New York Times

Spectacular success in Pakistan makes Obama's defeat markedly less likely.

The New Yorker

They were also markedly less likely to report that they were "highly satisfied" with their lives, with just 35percentt reporting such satisfaction compared with 52percentt of their married peers.

The Washington Post

A child from a family in America's bottom quintile of earners is markedly less likely than a child born into the top quintile to be ready for school at five.

The Economist

A research grant application from a black scientist to the National Institutes of Health is markedly less likely to win approval than one from a white scientist, a new study reported on Thursday.

The New York Times - Science

Children from low-income families and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) households are markedly less likely than white children and those from higher income households to frequently visit urban or rural wild places, according to the survey conducted by Natural England.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Differences markedly less than are less likely to be biologically relevant and this study was not designed to identify small differences.

BMC Pediatrics

But Labour is changing - and Alexander's successor is likely to be markedly less sceptical about the leadership.

The Guardian

Immigrant travelers sought markedly less pretravel advice and were more likely to be inpatients than other groups; differences were significant (p<0.0001).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Thus, the failure to confirm previous evidence of PCB neurotoxicity in the current study is likely attributable to exposure to a markedly less neurotoxic PCB congener mix.

Environmental Health Perspectives

"The issue is, how can we prudently invest?" He said children who attend high quality preschools do markedly better throughout their educations, are more likely to attend college and less likely to commit crimes as adults.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "markedly less likely", ensure that the comparison group is clearly defined to provide context for the reduced likelihood. For example, "Patients receiving treatment A are markedly less likely to experience side effects compared to those receiving treatment B."

Common error

Avoid using "markedly less likely" when the difference is only marginal or statistically insignificant. This phrase indicates a substantial difference in probability, so ensure your data supports this claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "markedly less likely" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating the degree to which something is not probable. It is used to express a significant reduction in the probability of an event or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "markedly less likely" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression that indicates a significant reduction in probability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as an adverbial modifier and serves to highlight a notable difference in potential outcomes, it is commonly found in news, scientific and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, be sure to clearly define the comparison group and avoid overstating the certainty of the difference. Alternatives such as "significantly less probable" or "notably less prone to" can be used depending on the context. Ensure the data supports the claims. Remember this phrase suggests a difference that is considerably lower in likelyhood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Substantially less probable

Replaces "likely" with "probable" and "markedly" with "substantially" to emphasize the reduced probability.

Significantly less apt to

Uses "apt to" instead of "likely" and "significantly" instead of "markedly", changing the tone slightly.

Considerably less inclined to

Substitutes "likely" with "inclined to" and "markedly" with "considerably", indicating a decreased tendency.

Notably less prone to

Replaces "likely" with "prone to" and "markedly" with "notably", highlighting a reduced susceptibility.

Distinctly less liable to

Uses "liable to" instead of "likely" and "distinctly" instead of "markedly", suggesting a clear reduction in likelihood.

Appreciably less expected to

Replaces "likely" with "expected to" and "markedly" with "appreciably", focusing on a diminished expectation.

Materially less possible

Substitutes "likely" with "possible" and "markedly" with "materially", changing the emphasis to possibility.

Decidedly less predictable to

Uses "predictable" rather than "likely", shifting the focus towards predictability.

Noticeably rarer to happen

Changes the structure to emphasize the rarity of an event.

Slightly improbable

Simplifies the phrase to indicate a low probability.

FAQs

How can I use "markedly less likely" in a sentence?

You can use "markedly less likely" to describe a situation where an outcome has a significantly lower probability compared to another. For example, "Individuals with a healthy diet are "markedly less likely" to develop heart disease than those with a poor diet."

What are some alternatives to "markedly less likely"?

Alternatives include "significantly less probable", "considerably less inclined to", or "notably less prone to", depending on the specific context you wish to emphasize.

Is it appropriate to use "markedly less likely" in formal writing?

Yes, "markedly less likely" is suitable for formal writing. It is a clear and precise way to express a significant difference in probability and is often found in academic and professional contexts.

What's the difference between "less likely" and "markedly less likely"?

"Less likely" simply indicates a lower probability, while ""markedly less likely"" emphasizes that the difference in probability is substantial or significant.