much less probable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much less probable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the likelihood of two events, indicating that one event is significantly less likely to occur than another. Example: "While it is possible for it to rain tomorrow, it is much less probable than the forecast suggests sunny weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The presence of Turkish troops, wherever they are, makes that much less probable.

The Guardian

Compressive contact loads required to propagate fractures from zones of bi-axial tension or bi-axial compression were found to be considerably higher and are much less probable.

Engineering Fracture Mechanics

Although the Apple programmer responsible for the "goto fail" problem could have made a similar mistake without using the "goto" statement, it would have been much less probable.

MIT Technology Review

It is clear that in a complex fact a thousand circumstances are united by chance, and that only a chance still much less probable could re-unite them anew.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"While it is not possible for us to categorically exclude spiking as a possibility, it is our opinion that possibility is much less probable than that of inadvertent contamination or other unexplained factors in the measurements," the report said.

The New York Times - Science

At (x=200), for example, the number of matched hashtags increases, but it is much less probable that those hashtags come from retweets.

Computational Social Networks

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Ezra Klein's account of how it is that a Supreme Court ruling against Obamacare became a real possibility is rather less sensationalistic, but it seems to me Mr Klein is asking the same exasperated question: how did it become probable, much less conceivable, that the Supreme Court will strike down the greatest liberal legislative achievement in a generation?

The Economist

At three, the child who has already been weaned is given much less attention with the probable birth of a younger brother or sister.

Unicef

NEW LOAN DISAPPOINTING Subscriptions Much Less Than Hoped -- Bourse Discusses Probable Financing of Debt by Bank Loans.

The New York Times

You miss the main threat posed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's assuming the power to spy on all of us by physical surveillance, covert infiltration and even trash-picking, all without reasonable grounds for suspicion, much less the constitutional standard of "probable cause".

The New York Times

As the government concluded its presentation to the Court, I couldn't help but wonder if they had even reached the low threshold of probable cause, much less proving the charges beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing probabilities, ensure the context clearly establishes what the "much less probable" event is being compared to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "much less probable" when you actually mean 'impossible' or 'highly unlikely'. Ensure there's still a non-zero (even if very small) chance of the event occurring.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much less probable" functions as a qualifier or intensifier in comparative statements. It modifies the adjective "probable", indicating a significantly lower likelihood of something occurring. Ludwig AI confirms that this is both grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

42%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "much less probable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a significantly lower likelihood of an event. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in scientific, news, and academic contexts, it serves to qualify comparative statements and express doubt. When using this phrase, ensure the context makes clear comparison, as you can see in the many examples provided by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly less likely

Emphasizes a greater difference in probability compared to the original phrase.

considerably less likely

Highlights a substantial reduction in the probability of an event.

far less likely

Indicates a notable decrease in the chances of something happening.

substantially less probable

Stresses a significant reduction in the likelihood.

appreciably less probable

Highlights a noticeable reduction in probability.

markedly less probable

Emphasizes a distinct difference in likelihood.

noticeably less probable

Indicates a reduction in probability that is easy to observe.

distinctly less probable

Focuses on the clearness of the reduced probability.

relatively improbable

Uses "improbable" directly, focusing on the lack of probability in a relative sense.

not very likely

A more direct and simple way of expressing reduced probability.

FAQs

How can I use "much less probable" in a sentence?

Use "much less probable" to compare two possibilities, emphasizing that one is significantly less likely than the other. For example, "While a meteor strike is possible, it's "much less probable" than a thunderstorm".

What's a good alternative to "much less probable"?

Alternatives include "far less likely", "significantly less probable", or "considerably less likely". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "much less probable"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is standard and acceptable in written English.

What's the difference between "less probable" and "much less probable"?

"Much less probable" emphasizes a greater difference in likelihood. Saying something is "less probable" simply indicates it's not as likely, whereas adding "much" highlights a significant disparity in likelihood.