only of chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only of chance" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It could be used in contexts discussing randomness or probability, but it would need additional context to clarify its meaning. Example: "The outcome of the game was only of chance, with no skill involved."

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Thus I do not believe that we can fairly determine on this record whether plaintiff subjected its licensees to periodic and thorough inspections by trained personnel or whether its policing consisted only of chance, cursory examinations of licensees' operations by technically untrained salesmen.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

There is only 0.01%% of chance that large "model F value" could occur due to noise.

Applied Water Science

The observed cluster-specific estimates vary only because of chance created from sampling subjects.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

The prognosis of gastric cancer with distant metastasis is extremely unfavorable because of only 15% chance of survival for the next 5 years [1].

Surgical Case Reports

But the only chance of reforming Californian's dysfunctional government lies with a big-bang approach.

The Economist

"They have no chance of doing this right; only the chance of another election fiasco in Florida".

The New York Times

Ms. Felix-Browne, 52, who also goes by the name Zaina al-Sabah, said in an interview with Reuters on Friday, "Spain is our only chance of surviving, our only chance of living".

The New York Times

Killing Twitter is my only real chance of leaving.

The Guardian - Tech

"We thought there was only a chance of it happening.

BBC

At first, he could not speak and doctors gave him only 1% chance of survival.

BBC

As the hours ticked away, so had their only real chance of rescue.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, consider replacing "only of chance" with more common alternatives like "purely by chance" or "merely a matter of chance" to ensure broader understanding.

Common error

Be mindful that using phrases like "only of chance" too frequently can make your writing sound unnatural. Opt for more conventional expressions to maintain a smooth and accessible tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only of chance" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb. Ludwig suggests that the usage of the phrase is somewhat uncommon and might benefit from alternative phrasings to enhance clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "only of chance" is a prepositional phrase used to emphasize that an outcome depends solely on randomness or luck. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig's analysis indicates it is not as common as alternatives like "purely by chance". Its register is generally neutral, but more conventional expressions might be preferred in professional settings for better clarity. The phrase appears across different contexts like news, science, and academia, albeit infrequently. Considering its somewhat unusual structure, being mindful when opting for a more common phrase is a good approach.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

purely by chance

Emphasizes that something happened solely due to random luck or coincidence.

merely a matter of chance

Highlights that the outcome was simply determined by unpredictable circumstances.

solely due to luck

Focuses on luck as the only determining factor.

entirely random

Stresses the complete lack of pattern or predictability.

just by accident

Indicates that something happened unintentionally or without planning.

coincidentally

Highlights the unexpected and unplanned nature of an event.

fortuitously

Emphasizes the positive or beneficial aspect of something happening by chance.

randomly

A more direct adverb describing an action occurring without a specific pattern.

by happenstance

A formal way of saying something happened by chance or coincidence.

as luck would have it

Highlights the role of luck or fate in an event.

FAQs

What does "only of chance" mean?

The phrase "only of chance" suggests that an outcome is determined solely by randomness or luck, without any skill or planning involved. However, it's less common than alternatives.

Are there better alternatives to "only of chance"?

Yes, more common alternatives include "purely by chance", "merely a matter of chance", or "solely due to luck", which are generally clearer and more widely understood.

How can I use "only of chance" in a sentence?

While grammatically acceptable, it's best used when you specifically want to emphasize the lack of any factor other than chance. For example: "The observed cluster-specific estimates vary "only of chance" created from sampling subjects".

Is "only of chance" formal or informal?

The phrase does not exhibit a strong formality and appears in a range of sources. Nevertheless, prefer using it in contexts where you want to stress the randomness factor.