minimal chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minimal chance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a very low probability of something occurring. Example: "There is a minimal chance of rain tomorrow, so we can go ahead with the picnic plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

The forecast Monday called for a minimal chance of rain.

The New York Times - Sports

Terence Young gave Christopher his first – and minimal – chance before the film cameras in Corridor of Mirrors (1948).

The Guardian - Film

It is a cause with minimal chance of success, but one hotly promoted by much of the political establishment.

The Economist

So…do you agree that Clinton has only a minimal chance — and if you disagree, what do you see as her path to the nomination?

The New York Times

Lipid probes can be metabolically incorporated into cell membranes, allowing observation of membrane fusion in vitro with minimal chance of flip flop, non-specific transfer and formation of microcrystals.

Chemistry and Physics of Lipids

I argue that Senator Clinton has only a minimal chance of winning the nomination — but a fair chance of creating such discord in the Democratic Party that John McCain can claim the White House.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

We kept them to minimal chances.

The Guardian - Sport

(The other two nominees, "Noises Off" and "Morning's at Seven," were both given high praise but minimal chances of winning).

The New York Times

The authors assert that there is no convincing evidence to support the theory that starting annual screening at age 40 exposes women to undue harm, with minimal chances of finding cancer.

Harvard University

Jozy Altidore was excellent and it would be lazy to look at the score line and the minimal chances and say the striker failed to do his job and get a goal.

The Guardian - Sport

"My back four were wonderful and we restricted Elfsborg to minimal chances".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing future plans or predictions, use "minimal chance" to realistically temper expectations without completely dismissing the possibility of something happening. It acknowledges uncertainty while managing potential disappointment.

Common error

Avoid using "minimal chance" when the situation warrants a stronger expression of impossibility or certainty. Overusing it can dilute the impact of situations where the outcome is highly predictable or fixed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minimal chance" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a preposition or a subject complement. It describes the degree of possibility or likelihood of an event. Ludwig AI examples show its usage in various contexts to indicate a low probability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

40%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "minimal chance" is a grammatically sound and commonly employed expression to convey a low probability of an event occurring. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase enjoys widespread use across diverse sources, spanning News & Media, Science, and Wiki platforms, and that the AI judges its usage as correct. When aiming to express low probability, alternatives such as "slight possibility" or "low probability" may also be considered. Writers should avoid overstating certainty when employing this phrase, recognizing that while outcomes may appear improbable, they are not entirely impossible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight possibility

Replaces "chance" with "possibility", which is a direct synonym, maintaining a similar level of formality.

low probability

Substitutes "minimal chance" with a more statistical term, "low probability", implying a quantified assessment of likelihood.

remote possibility

Uses "remote" to emphasize the unlikelihood of the event occurring, adding a layer of distance or improbability.

slim chance

Replaces "minimal" with "slim", conveying a similar sense of smallness or thinness in the context of opportunity.

slight likelihood

Changes both "minimal" and "chance" to "slight" and "likelihood", offering a close synonym with a slightly more formal tone.

negligible possibility

Emphasizes that the possibility is so small it can almost be disregarded; stronger than "minimal".

limited opportunity

Focuses on the scarcity of opportunity rather than the likelihood of an event, changing the emphasis slightly.

rare prospect

Highlights the infrequency or uncommon nature of the prospect, adding a sense of exceptionality.

unlikely prospect

Directly states that the prospect is not likely to happen, focusing on the lack of likelihood.

theoretical possibility

Suggests that the possibility exists only in theory, often implying it is impractical or unrealistic.

FAQs

How can I use "minimal chance" in a sentence?

You can use "minimal chance" to express a low probability of something occurring, like: "There is a "minimal chance" of rain today" or "The project has a "minimal chance" of succeeding without more funding".

What are some alternatives to "minimal chance"?

Some alternatives to "minimal chance" include "slight possibility", "low probability", or "slim chance".

Is it correct to say "there is minimal chance" or "there is a minimal chance"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "there is a minimal chance" is more common and natural-sounding in most contexts.

What's the difference between "minimal chance" and "no chance"?

"Minimal chance" indicates a very small possibility, while "no chance" means there is absolutely no possibility at all. The former leaves a slight opening, while the latter closes it completely.