of how likely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of how likely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the probability or chance of an event occurring. Example: "The study aims to assess the factors of how likely individuals are to adopt new technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But we would like to have some sort of understanding of how likely those situations are.

Princeton University

Each PDF shows a different view of how likely those values are.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But so do perceptions of how likely their issuers are to default.

The Economist

"We don't really have a good sense of how likely this is, but both are only likely to increase".

The Guardian - Tech

To have a better understanding of how likely as well as how extreme a consequence may be, risk-based analysis is often required.

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries

Traditional methods of managing supply chain risk require estimations of how likely a disruption is to occur.

Harvard Business Review

Investigators accomplish this by providing an estimate of how likely it is that the population produced a misleading sample for them to study.

Journal of Cardiac Failure

It is only after ICM adjusts to take account of how likely respondents say they are to turn out and vote that the Tories edge ahead.

The Guardian

The relevant COSPAR standard was conceived back in the nineteen-fifties, and it relies on an estimate of how likely Earth organisms are to survive on Mars.

The New Yorker

If we understood that, we'd have a better understanding of how likely it is that it got started in these other environments.

The Guardian

A "jet cross section" is a measure of how likely we are to see jets when we fire two protons at each other.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When assessing risk, use "of how likely" to estimate the probability of negative events, helping in decision-making and planning.

Common error

Avoid using "of how likely" in extremely formal or academic writing where more concise alternatives like "likelihood of" or "probability of" might be preferred for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of how likely" functions as a prepositional phrase, often introducing a subordinate clause. It's used to describe or quantify the probability or chance of an event occurring. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "of how likely" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to assess or estimate the probability of an event. Ludwig's analysis reveals its prevalence across various domains, including news, science, and academia. While perfectly acceptable, consider context-appropriate alternatives such as "likelihood of" or "probability of" for enhanced formality. When employing this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intended tone and clarity of your writing. Use "of how likely" to introduce subordinate clauses about estimations of likelihood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likelihood of

Focuses on the state or fact of being likely to happen.

probability of

Highlights the chance or degree to which something is likely to occur.

chance of

Emphasizes the possibility that something will happen.

possibility of

Stresses that something is capable of happening or being true.

odds of

Suggests a comparison between favorable and unfavorable outcomes.

prospect of

Indicates the potential or possibility for something to happen in the future.

potential for

Highlights the inherent capacity or possibility of something occurring.

degree to which

Focuses on the extent or level of likelihood.

extent to which

Similar to "degree to which" but may imply a broader range of factors.

the extent that

Refers to the degree or scope to which something is the case.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "of how likely" in a sentence?

You can replace "of how likely" with phrases such as "likelihood of", "probability of", or "chance of" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "of how likely" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "of how likely" might sound less polished in very formal contexts. Consider using more concise alternatives like "likelihood" or "probability" for a more refined tone.

What's the difference between "of how likely" and "the probability"?

"Of how likely" introduces a clause about estimating likelihood, while "the probability" refers directly to a quantified chance of something occurring. The choice depends on whether you're framing a question or making a statement about probability.

Can I use "of how likely" when discussing potential outcomes?

Yes, "of how likely" is suitable for discussing potential outcomes, especially when assessing the chances or probabilities associated with different scenarios. For example, "We need to assess of how likely each scenario is to occur".