no more predictable than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "no more predictable than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the unpredictability of one thing to another, emphasizing that both are equally unpredictable. Example: "The weather in this region is no more predictable than the stock market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Seventeen years later, Björk has built a career that is no more predictable than her hair.

The New Yorker

War is no more predictable than is a game of chess.

MIT Technology Review

Lovesey is such a master of black humor and macabre plot twists that the attitudes of Foxford's parishioners are no more predictable than Otis's outrageous behavior.

The New York Times - Books

The Woodpecker, now silent, is a reminder of a time when errors no more predictable than those at Chernobyl might have led to a nuclear world war.

The New York Times - Science

The balloons that Kittinger rode to the stratosphere nearly fifty years ago were filled with helium rather than with hot air, but the same principles applied: they were no more predictable than the weather.

The New Yorker

Your innuendo that "anything of that sort coming out of Britain" would be held in contempt by the French is as ignorant as it is absurd.You rightly point out that Mr Loach's work (whose tone, incidentally, is no more "predictable" than, say, The Economist's), is also popular in Germany and the Netherlands (a country that surely cannot be accused of Anglophobia).

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The result in Portugal is great news for the season ahead, which is no more predictable now than before Qatar.

The Guardian - Sport

Data can help us make better predictions, but it will not make people more predictable than they already are.

The Guardian - Tech

Compositional functions were perceived as subjectively more predictable than non-compositional functions, and exhibited other signatures of predictability, such as enhanced memorability and reduced numerosity.

Cognitive Psychology

However, climate predictability varies with location and season, and sometimes temperature is more predictable than rainfall.

Columbia University

Smith wrote that McGraw was "left-handed and lighthearted and not necessarily more predictable than the screwball he throws, but he is no dummy".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "no more predictable than" to draw a parallel between two unpredictable entities, enhancing the reader's understanding of the degree of uncertainty involved. Ensure the comparison is logical and relatable for maximum impact.

Common error

Avoid using "no more predictable than" when only one element is actually unpredictable. The phrase relies on a comparison, so ensure that both subjects involved genuinely lack predictability to maintain the phrase's intended effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no more predictable than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It asserts that two subjects share a similar lack of predictability. Ludwig examples show this in varied contexts, reinforcing its comparative function.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "no more predictable than" is a comparative phrase used to equate the unpredictability of two distinct subjects. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and appears most frequently in news and science-related contexts. When writing, it's crucial to ensure a balanced comparison and avoid its use when only one element lacks predictability. Alternatives such as "just as unpredictable as" can be considered for variety, but the key is to maintain the comparative intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just as unpredictable as

Emphasizes equal levels of unpredictability between two subjects.

equally unpredictable to

Highlights that two things share the same degree of unpredictability.

not any more predictable than

Adds emphasis to the lack of increased predictability.

no more certain than

Shifts the focus from predictability to certainty, indicating a lack of sureness.

just as uncertain as

Similar to "just as unpredictable as", but using 'uncertain' instead.

not particularly predictable

Indicates a general lack of predictability without a direct comparison.

unpredictable as

Shortened version, omitting "no more" for a slightly less formal tone.

highly uncertain

Focuses on the uncertainty aspect, suggesting a significant lack of predictability.

impossible to foresee

Highlights the inability to predict or anticipate something.

subject to chance

Indicates that outcomes are determined by random events, lacking predictability.

FAQs

How can I use "no more predictable than" in a sentence?

Use "no more predictable than" to compare two unpredictable things, such as "The stock market's fluctuations are "no more predictable than" the weather."

What are some alternatives to "no more predictable than"?

Alternatives include "just as unpredictable as", "equally unpredictable to", or "not any more predictable than", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "not more predictable than" instead of "no more predictable than"?

While "not more predictable than" isn't grammatically incorrect, "no more predictable than" is more idiomatic and emphasizes the equal level of unpredictability. The first one highlights that something is not more predictable in comparison to something else and the latter highlights that both share the same low levels of predictability.

What's the difference between "no more predictable than" and "less predictable than"?

"No more predictable than" indicates equal unpredictability between two subjects, while "less predictable than" implies that one subject is more unpredictable than the other.