remote possibility that

USAGE SUMMARY

'remote possibility that' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something which has a small chance of happening. For example: "There is a remote possibility that the weather tomorrow will be sunny."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A major Met Office review of more than 100 scientific studies tracking the observed changes in the Earth's climate system finds that it is an "increasingly remote possibility" that human activity is not the main cause of climate change.

The Guardian

One possibility, suggested by some discussions, is that one might claim that rather than the story's being a remote possibility that has only a miniscule chance of being true, the story represents "a real possibility", and so has a substantial chance of being true.

SEP

"There was still a very remote possibility that she was alive," he said recently.

The New Yorker

There is a remote possibility that charges could be filed against both men.

The New York Times - Sports

There is even the remote possibility that Cleveland might trade the pick, maybe to the Jets.

The New York Times - Sports

There is a remote possibility that they damaged cells that control Meyer's memory.

The New York Times - Science

Isn't there a remote possibility that Gerhartsreiter really is a member of the Rockefeller family?

The New York Times

There remains a real but remote possibility that someone will win an upset victory over Mr. Putin.

The New York Times

He added that there was even a remote possibility that "The Falling Soldier" could be by Taro and not Capa.

The New York Times - Arts

That, and not the remote possibility that the talks actually "succeed," is the greatest risk of continuing to talk.

The New York Times

There is even some remote possibility that I am oversimplifying, missing something obvious, or just speaking ex rectum.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "remote possibility that" to acknowledge a potential outcome, especially when downplaying its likelihood. This acknowledges all possibilities without causing undue alarm or unwarranted expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "remote possibility that" when describing highly probable events. Using it inappropriately can mislead your audience into thinking something is less likely than it is.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remote possibility that" functions as a qualifier to express uncertainty or low probability regarding a subsequent statement. Ludwig confirms its proper usage, highlighting how it frames potential outcomes with a diminished likelihood.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "remote possibility that" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a low likelihood of a particular event or outcome. Ludwig confirms that it is appropriate for framing unlikely scenarios across various contexts. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, consider alternatives such as "slim chance that" or "slight chance that" to vary your language. Ensure you're accurately representing the probability and avoiding overstatements to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slim chance that

Emphasizes the unlikelihood more strongly than the original phrase.

slight chance that

Similar to 'slim chance', it highlights the minimal probability.

unlikely prospect that

Uses 'prospect' to suggest a future possibility, though improbable.

mere possibility that

Highlights that it's just a possibility and nothing more.

outside chance that

Indicates the possibility exists outside the realm of likely events.

faint hope that

Focuses on the hopeful aspect, even though it's weak.

negligible risk that

Highlights the risk factor, emphasizing its small size.

theoretical chance that

Presents it as a possibility in theory, but not necessarily in practice.

improbable event that

Shifts the focus to the event, stressing its improbability.

unrealistic expectation that

Implies the possibility is so low it's almost not worth considering.

FAQs

How to use "remote possibility that" in a sentence?

Use "remote possibility that" to indicate a very low chance of something happening. For example, "There's a "remote possibility that" the meeting will be canceled due to weather."

What can I say instead of "remote possibility that"?

You can use alternatives like "slim chance that", "slight chance that", or "unlikely prospect that" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "there is a remote chance that" instead of "remote possibility that"?

Yes, "remote chance that" is a valid and semantically similar alternative to "remote possibility that". Both phrases express a low probability of an event occurring.

What's the difference between "remote possibility that" and "likely possibility that"?

"Remote possibility that" indicates something is unlikely, while using "likely possibility that" is contradictory, as it combines the concept of something being both probable and improbable. It's better to use "likely scenario" or "probable outcome" instead of "likely possibility that".