or possibly better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "or possibly better" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting an alternative that may be an improvement or a superior option compared to what has been previously mentioned. Example: "This solution is effective, or possibly better, than the previous one we considered."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"It's possible he did as well or possibly better".

The Guardian

However, the asphalt industry has been searching for alternatives that provide equivalent or possibly better performance.

Construction and Building Materials

"Now it remains to be seen whether cortisol does as well, or not as well, or possibly better.

Science Magazine

… Rather than saying, 'hey, let's make a really enjoyable, or possibly better, 4-year experience' and drag out the postdoc, let's just accept... that we can be here for 2 years and not find the job we want, or we can be here for 8 years and not find the job we want, and maybe it's just better that sometimes we have to swallow the bad pill and move on with our lives".

Science Magazine

We demonstrated in multiple preclinical mouse models that the systemic delivery of Uncl-Sema3E induces tumour shrinkage (comparable to VEGF inhibitors or possibly better) and concomitantly prevents cancer cell invasion and metastatic spreading.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

8 To date, data from large comparative case series suggest visual outcomes from laser cataract surgery are similar to, or possibly better than, those from manual phacoemulsification. 9 10 The aim of this multicentre, single-masked randomised controlled non-inferiority trial is to establish whether laser-assisted cataract surgery is as good as or better than standard surgery.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Whether you believe that or not, they're possibly better than a milky, sugar-laden cup of coffee.

The Guardian

If you find that you are clinging to a specific period from your past because you don't feel there is anything in the present or future that could possibly better, and if thinking about the past in that way actually makes you sad, you may be stuck in the past.

Huffington Post

Second, in our case study, the principal investigator was an oncologist telephoning PCPs, and it may be that increases in response rates would have differed if he were also a PCP (possibly better) or if he were telephoning fellow oncologists (possibly better).

British Journal of Cancer

Hence, it is of our particular interest to investigate whether alpha- and delta-tocotrienol would possess similar cytotoxic capability as with what reported by other studies for gamma-tocotrienol, or would they be possibly better.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

These Phase II results are similar to the Phase III (MDX010-20) results and add further support to the effects of ipilimumab treatment as possibly better or comparable to those observed in these other clinical trials.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "or possibly better" when you want to suggest a potential improvement or superior alternative without making a definitive claim. This phrasing allows for flexibility and avoids overstating the case.

Common error

Avoid using "or possibly better" when a stronger, more definitive statement is warranted. If evidence strongly suggests an improvement, a more confident assertion may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "or possibly better" functions as a conjunctive phrase, introducing a potential alternative that may be superior. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in written English. It serves to present an option with a chance of being an improvement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "or possibly better" serves as a grammatically sound way to introduce a potential improvement or superior alternative to something already mentioned. According to Ludwig AI, it's a correct and usable phrase that allows for flexibility without making a definitive assertion. While generally neutral in register, its usage spans across a range of contexts, including science, news, and general writing. Although classified as "uncommon", this expression is found within authoritative sources such as The Guardian and various scientific journals. Keep in mind to use it when a potential improvement/alternative is there, but not completely supported by factual data.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

or potentially superior

Replaces "possibly" with "potentially", suggesting a similar degree of likelihood of being better.

or even superior

Emphasizes the possibility of being better to a greater degree than "possibly better".

or conceivably better

Substitutes "possibly" with "conceivably", implying that it is within the realm of possibility that something is better.

or maybe even better

Adds the colloquial "maybe" to soften the assertion while maintaining the possibility of improvement.

or potentially more effective

Focuses specifically on effectiveness as the aspect that may be better.

or perhaps an improvement

Uses a more general term, "improvement", to suggest a better state.

or even an upgrade

Suggests a significant improvement, implying a higher level of quality or performance.

or it could be better

Phrases the improvement as a possibility rather than a direct comparison.

or an outright upgrade

Emphasizes a complete and undeniable improvement.

or an advantage even

Implies the existence of certain specific edges/benefits that put one thing above the other.

FAQs

How can I use "or possibly better" in a sentence?

Use "or possibly better" to suggest an alternative that could be an improvement over something already mentioned. For example: "This new method is as effective as the old one, "or possibly better"."

What's a more formal alternative to "or possibly better"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "or potentially superior", "or conceivably better", or "or potentially more effective".

Is it redundant to say "or possibly better"?

While "possibly" implies uncertainty, it doesn't necessarily make the phrase redundant. It emphasizes the potential for improvement, but allows for the chance it's only equal. You could remove "possibly" without drastically changing the meaning, but it would make the statement a bit more forceful.

Which is correct, "or possibly better" or "and possibly better"?

Use "or possibly better" when offering an alternative. Use "and possibly better" when adding to a previous statement, suggesting it has additional benefits. The choice depends on whether you're presenting options or adding qualities.