possibility of lost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "possibility of lost" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "possibility of loss"? You can use "possibility of loss" when discussing the chance or likelihood of something being lost, whether it be physical items, opportunities, or data. Example: "There is a possibility of loss if we do not back up our files regularly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Many fret about the possibility of lost income.

The Economist

As for the possibility of lost rivalries, Mr. Kurowski is dismissive.

The New York Times

Files can be transferred to labs over the Internet, which removes the possibility of lost or damaged film.

The New York Times

At a lengthy meeting before a standing-room-only crowd at the Riverhead Town Hall tonight, people spoke out for and (mostly) against the concert, raising fears of drunken driving, the possibility of lost town revenues and worries of terrorist attacks.

The New York Times

Just the possibility of lost luggage can put a damper on any vacation.

Forbes

Additionally, this approach does not allow for the possibility of lost events since a TSC adjustment event could be lost.

Journal of Cloud Computing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

It's the possibility of losing yourself".

The Guardian - Music

Perhaps Trump's biggest grievance is the possibility of losing.

The Guardian - Opinion

The possibility of losing did not seem to bother Mr. Giuliani.

The New York Times

The possibility of losing their wealth has become more real.

The New York Times

This automatically implies the possibility of losing the optical activity, i.e. racemization.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the potential for something to be misplaced or disappear, use the grammatically correct phrase "possibility of loss" instead of "possibility of lost".

Common error

Avoid using "lost" after "possibility of". "Lost" is an adjective or past participle, while "loss" is the noun form that correctly represents the state of having lost something. Always use "possibility of loss".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "possibility of lost" functions as a noun phrase, though it is grammatically incorrect. It aims to express the potential or chance that something has been misplaced or is no longer available. Ludwig AI marks this phrase as incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

14%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "possibility of lost" appears in various sources, including news and media, it is considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct phrase is "possibility of loss", using the noun "loss" instead of the adjective or past participle "lost". Despite its incorrectness, the intention behind the phrase is generally understood to convey the potential for something to be misplaced or disappear. When writing, it's best to use "possibility of loss" or related alternatives like "likelihood of loss" for clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likelihood of loss

Replaces "possibility" with a synonym "likelihood" and "lost" with "loss", emphasizing the probability of something being gone.

chance of loss

Substitutes "possibility" with "chance", maintaining a similar meaning but with a more informal tone and "lost" with "loss".

risk of losing

Replaces "possibility" with "risk" focusing on the potential negative outcome and transforms "lost" into "losing", which changes the grammatical construction.

potential for loss

Emphasizes the "potential" aspect of the loss, using a slightly more formal tone and replaces "lost" with "loss".

prospect of losing

Focuses on the "prospect", or anticipation, of a loss occurring, transforming "lost" into "losing".

threat of loss

Highlights the impending danger or "threat" of a loss, conveying a sense of urgency, and replaces "lost" with "loss".

danger of losing

Similar to "threat of loss", but emphasizes the "danger" involved in the possibility of something being lost, transforming "lost" into "losing".

fear of loss

Focuses on the emotional aspect, the "fear", associated with the prospect of losing something, and replaces "lost" with "loss".

eventuality of loss

Suggests that a loss is a possible outcome or "eventuality", which may or may not happen, and replaces "lost" with "loss".

the outlook for losing

Presents the situation as an assessment of the "outlook" or future prospects of losing something, transforming "lost" into "losing".

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "possibility of lost"?

The correct phrase is "possibility of loss". The word "loss" is the correct noun to use in this context.

Is "possibility of lost" grammatically correct?

No, "possibility of lost" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "possibility of loss". "Lost" should be replaced with the noun "loss".

What are some alternatives to "possibility of loss"?

You can use alternatives like "likelihood of loss", "chance of loss", or "risk of losing" depending on the context.

When should I use "possibility of loss" versus "risk of loss"?

"Possibility of loss" indicates a chance that something could be lost. "Risk of loss" implies that there are factors increasing the likelihood of loss, suggesting a more imminent threat or vulnerability.