most likely case

USAGE SUMMARY

"most likely case" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the likelihood that something will happen or be true. For example, "It is the most likely case that the new law will pass."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Some in-between scenario like 2004 (which is perhaps the most likely case) would make control of the House a coin flip.

The New York Times

In the most likely case, an emergency will prompt the evacuation of a single building.

Columbia University

My hunch is that the former is the most likely case.

The Guardian

Our job is to say what is the most likely case".

The Guardian - Business

By Mr. Zandi's estimation, in the most likely case, the unemployment rate will reach 9.3percentt next year.

The New York Times

It's an incredibly high-risk path that fails to reduce the threats posed by the worst case or even most likely case scenarios.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Thus, the 16.7% of cases who revealed positive RIBA and negative RNA in the serum HCV test in this study were most likely cases that had recovered.

BioMed Research International

We analyzed a base case (most likely), best-case, and worst-case scenario to account for uncertainty instead of adopting a probabilistic approach because data on vaccine efficacy and rotavirus-associated health outcomes in Kazakhstan are lacking or sparse.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

And the NWS is now staffed with Warning Coordination Officers whose job it is to talk to public officials including the Virginia Department of Transportation, Maryland Department of Transportation and the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) prior to a storm and provide them with worst-, best-, and most-likely-case scenarios based on the ensemble guidance.

The Washington Post

"However, we still believe the stock price discounts pessimistic outcomes rather than most-likely-case outcomes".

Forbes

Let's start with the 3 retention rate calculations made by Mr. Gaba, yielding retention rates that range from 38.8% to 65.2% with a "most-likely-case" estimate of 60.2%.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting a "most likely case", clearly articulate the reasoning and evidence supporting that conclusion to enhance credibility.

Common error

Avoid presenting the "most likely case" as an absolute certainty. Acknowledge potential alternative scenarios and the uncertainties involved to maintain objectivity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "most likely case" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a specific situation or event that is considered the most probable among several possibilities. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

44%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "most likely case" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the scenario that is deemed most probable based on available evidence. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across diverse contexts, including science, news, and academia. While versatile, it's essential to avoid presenting it as an absolute certainty and consider alternative scenarios. Alternatives such as "most probable scenario" or "most plausible scenario" can be used to add nuance or formality depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most probable scenario

Emphasizes the probability aspect more directly.

most plausible scenario

Highlights the believability or feasibility of the case.

most expected outcome

Focuses on the anticipation of a particular result.

most predictable event

Stresses the predictability of the case.

most reasonable assumption

Emphasizes the logical basis for considering the case.

most credible explanation

Highlights the trustworthiness and validity of the case.

most anticipated development

Focuses on the expectation of a specific development.

likeliest possibility

A more informal and direct alternative.

most favored possibility

Highlights what is considered the option with more chances.

the odds are that

Indicates the probability, but shifts the focus to a general estimation.

FAQs

How can I use "most likely case" in a sentence?

You can use "most likely case" to describe the scenario that is expected to happen based on the available evidence. For example: "The "most likely scenario" is that interest rates will remain stable."

What's a good alternative to "most likely case"?

Alternatives include "most probable scenario", "most plausible scenario", or "most expected outcome". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always appropriate to use "most likely case" in formal writing?

While "most likely case" is generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "most probable scenario" or "most reasonable assumption" in highly formal contexts such as academic papers or legal documents.

What is the difference between "most likely case" and "worst-case scenario"?

"Most likely case" refers to the scenario with the highest probability of occurring, while "worst-case scenario" refers to the scenario with the most negative potential outcome. They represent different points on a spectrum of possibilities.