not very probable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not very probable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express doubt or low likelihood regarding a situation or event. Example: "Given the current circumstances, it seems not very probable that we will meet our deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

It's not very probable right now".

The New York Times

And the answer, unfortunately, is: not very probable.

MIT Technology Review

Spain, Costa Rica and Nigeria had outcomes that were not very probable.

The Economist

Seeing 7 out of 27 (25%) at >2sigma is not very probable, so, in conjunction with the coincidence of these sources with known pulsars, they claim the detection.

Harvard University

Hamilton thought it "not very probable" that the Senate would block a Presidential nominee unless there were "special and strong reasons for the refusal".

The New Yorker

A change in intrinsic electron spin is not very probable, so conversion of a molecule from singlet to triplet or vice versa is slow compared with other molecular processes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

It may occur to him that if the defense is likely to be successful, then it isn't very probable that his own personal contribution will be essential.

SEP

It sounds interesting - and is now very probable.

Forbes

Heinecke [27], for example, concludes that the use of consistency analysis leads to very plausible scenarios, but not necessarily to very probable ones.

European Journal of Futures Research

The 50% hypothesis doesn't make it very probable that a single raven will be black, but it makes it highly probable that a much larger collection will be roughly half black, half non-black.

SEP

The assumption that significant proportions of students do not reach them is very probable, as substantial efforts are currently being made in order to assure that the freshmen have the ability to keep up to tertiary education through subject-specific or more general propaedeutic preparatory courses.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Using "not very probable" can soften potentially blunt statements. Instead of saying something is 'impossible', use this phrase to acknowledge a small chance, maintaining a more diplomatic tone.

Common error

While grammatically correct, relying heavily on "not very probable" in casual conversation can sound stilted. Opt for more natural alternatives like "unlikely" or "not likely" to maintain a conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very probable" functions as a qualifier, modifying a statement or expectation to express a low degree of likelihood. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound. The phrase serves to temper expectations and acknowledge uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not very probable" serves as a useful tool for expressing a nuanced degree of improbability. Ludwig confirms that it's grammatically correct, though not exceedingly common. It finds its place in formal, neutral, and scientific contexts, conveying a sense of measured skepticism. While perfectly acceptable, remember that more concise alternatives like "unlikely" might be preferable in informal settings. When precision is needed, however, "not very probable" hits the mark, helping you to avoid making overly strong assertions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unlikely

A more concise and direct way of expressing that something is improbable.

improbable

A formal synonym suggesting a low chance of occurrence.

not likely

A simpler phrasing conveying that an event is not expected to happen.

hardly likely

Emphasizes the low probability with an adverb of negation.

scarcely probable

Indicates that something is only just, if at all, probable.

doubtful

Suggests uncertainty and skepticism about the possibility.

questionable

Raises doubts about the likelihood or validity of something.

slim chance

Implies that there is a minimal possibility of success or occurrence.

remote possibility

Indicates that something is only faintly possible.

against the odds

Highlights that success or occurrence would be contrary to what is expected.

FAQs

What does "not very probable" mean?

The phrase "not very probable" means that something is unlikely to happen or is unlikely to be true. It indicates a low degree of possibility.

How can I use "not very probable" in a sentence?

You can use "not very probable" to express doubt or low likelihood regarding a situation or event. For example: "Given the current circumstances, it seems "not very probable" that we will meet our deadline."

What are some alternatives to "not very probable"?

Alternatives to "not very probable" include "unlikely", "improbable", "not likely", or "doubtful" depending on the context.

Is "not very probable" the same as "impossible"?

No, "not very probable" implies a low likelihood, while "impossible" suggests that something cannot happen under any circumstances. "Not very probable" leaves open a small possibility, whereas "impossible" does not.