minimal possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

'minimal possibility' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation where the likelihood of something happening is very small. For example, "Given the current economic climate, there is a minimal possibility that the company will hire new employees this year".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Her husband could take her home the next day, given the minimal possibility of a recurrence.

The New York Times - Magazine

The value of the DNA compared to the minimal possibility of intrusion -- I come down on the side of collecting the DNA".

The New York Times

All the frazzled people in this amazingly populous novel act pretty heedlessly, obeying impulses of which they are not always fully aware, and in some weird way their lack of principles serves them well, not necessarily protecting them from harm but at least supplying, moment to moment, some minimal possibility of happiness — a sense of being alive.

The New York Times - Books

end{aligned} Moreover, the constant bound ((m/M +(M/m)) is the minimal possibility.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

This leaves minimal possibility for cooperative conformational transition involving amide protons.

Plosone

Among all AKI cases, the injury caused by sepsis seems to be diagnosed particularly late, with minimal possibility for timely treatment.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

There are few job opportunities and minimal possibilities for education".

The New York Times

I felt furious, damaged, lost, and terrified by the life I imagined with no future or minimal possibilities.

Huffington Post

The island is far enough from the mainland that gene flow is likely to have been minimal, a possibility that is supported by the slightly different colouration of birds compared to the mainland [27].

Plosone

Furthermore, this means that research and/or health care resources are potentially squandered and that participants are exposed to unnecessary risks and burdens (however minimal) with the possibility of little or no benefit, or even the possibility of harm, particularly where understudied subgroups experience paradoxical effects.

BMC Medical Ethics

This is done under the pretext that the man can re-marry and sustain the family while the woman's chances of re-marrying is minimal and the possibility of leaving her area of residence is very high.

Environmental Systems Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minimal possibility", ensure the context clearly conveys that while the event is unlikely, it is not impossible. This adds nuance to your writing and avoids absolute statements.

Common error

Avoid using "minimal possibility" when you actually mean "impossible". "Minimal possibility" indicates a small chance remains, whereas "impossible" denotes no chance at all.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minimal possibility" functions as a noun phrase, where "minimal" modifies the noun "possibility". Ludwig AI confirms that it expresses the presence of a chance, though quite reduced.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minimal possibility" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something is unlikely but not impossible. Ludwig AI validates this usage. It's most commonly found in scientific and news contexts. When writing, ensure you're conveying the intended meaning of a small chance, not absolute impossibility. Alternatives like "slight chance" or "remote possibility" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning you want to express. Avoid overstating impossibility when a "minimal possibility" still exists.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negligible chance

Replaces "possibility" with "chance" and "minimal" with "negligible", emphasizing the insignificance of the likelihood.

slight chance

Uses "slight" instead of "minimal" to describe the small degree of likelihood.

remote possibility

Substitutes "minimal" with "remote", indicating a distant or unlikely chance.

slim chance

Similar to "slight chance", but implies an even smaller likelihood.

rare likelihood

Replaces "possibility" with "likelihood" and "minimal" with "rare", stressing the infrequency.

scant prospect

Uses "scant" and "prospect" to convey a limited and not very promising outlook.

unlikely event

Focuses on the event being improbable rather than the degree of possibility.

low probability

A more formal and statistical way of expressing a minimal possibility.

remote prospect

Emphasizes how distant in time or likelihood the event is.

outside chance

Suggests the possibility exists but is not expected to occur.

FAQs

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

Use "minimal possibility" to indicate that something is unlikely but still feasible. For example, "There is a "minimal possibility" of rain tomorrow, so you probably don't need an umbrella".

What's a good alternative to "minimal possibility"?

Alternatives to "minimal possibility" include "slight chance", "remote possibility", or "unlikely event", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more accurate to say "minimal possibility" or "slight possibility"?

Both "minimal possibility" and "slight possibility" are acceptable and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific context. "Minimal" might emphasize the very small nature of the chance.

When should I not use the phrase "minimal possibility"?

Avoid using "minimal possibility" if the event is truly impossible. In such cases, phrases like "no possibility" or "impossible" are more accurate. Also, consider stronger phrasing if the possibility is not just minimal, but also undesirable or insignificant.