scarce prospect

USAGE SUMMARY

"scarce prospect" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation or opportunity that is unlikely to occur or is rare. For example: "In the current economic climate, a job offer is a scarce prospect." Alternative expressions include "rare opportunity" and "limited chance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

BREAD GRAIN MAY BE SCARCE Prospect of Big Money Already Tempting Farmers to Enlarge the Sowing Area.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

That for too many Palestinians, lives are hard, jobs are scarce, prospects are uncertain, and personal grief is great.

The New York Times

A combination of strong balance sheets and scarce growth prospects in a slowing economy will probably lead to other deals in the property and casualty insurance industry, said Cliff Gallant, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, who called the transaction a great deal for Safeco.

The New York Times

Stress over lingering student debt, for instance, or scarce job prospects has a way of interfering with plans to marry or start a family.

Huffington Post

Jobs and prospects are scarce, infrastructure either collapsing or nonexistent.

Los Angeles Times

When incomes fall, jobs are scarce and there's no prospect of improvement, those who appear different tend to be scapegoated and blamed for society's ills.

BBC

But the incentive for their development is the prospect of increasingly scarce and expensive oil, and this will only be retarded by the continued focus on developing new supply.

Huffington Post

Such diversity is expected of freelance musicians, especially in New York, where conventional work prospects can be scarce.

The New York Times - Arts

Here, the complaints that echo around the camps are the same: food is scarce, the heat unbearable, the prospects dim to non-existent.

The Guardian

But by that time, borrowers with high credit scores were getting scarcer, and Countrywide faced the prospect of collapsing revenue and profits.

The New Yorker

In addition to this, the increasing demand for scarce frequency spectrum brings an exciting prospect to the development of the cognitive radio (CR) technology [2].

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarce prospect" to emphasize that an opportunity or resource is not only limited but also potentially diminishing or becoming unavailable. For a stronger impact, combine it with specific details about what makes the prospect scarce.

Common error

While "scarce prospect" is acceptable in formal writing, avoid using it too frequently, as it can make your writing sound stilted. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "slim chance" or "remote possibility" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarce prospect" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "scarce" modifies the noun "prospect". Ludwig shows its primary function is to describe a situation or opportunity that is unlikely to occur or is rare.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarce prospect" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that is unlikely or hard to come by. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase, while correct and usable, is relatively rare. Predominantly found in news and media, it lends a formal tone to writing. When using this phrase, consider synonyms like "slim chance" or "remote possibility" to enhance readability and avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slim chance

Focuses on the low probability of something happening, highlighting the unlikelihood.

remote possibility

Emphasizes the distance or unlikelihood of an event occurring.

unlikely scenario

Shifts the focus to the improbability of a particular situation unfolding.

rare opportunity

Highlights the infrequency of a favorable circumstance.

limited hope

Focuses on the constrained expectation of a positive outcome.

bleak outlook

Presents a negative forecast or expectation, indicating poor prospects.

dim prospects

Indicates a poor or fading chance of success or improvement.

unpromising future

Highlights the lack of positive indicators for future developments.

poor prognosis

Refers to a negative prediction, especially in medical contexts, but applicable more broadly.

meager chance

Emphasizes how small or insufficient the opportunity is.

FAQs

How can I use "scarce prospect" in a sentence?

You can use "scarce prospect" to describe a situation where an opportunity or resource is limited. For example, "In the current economic climate, a stable job is a "scarce prospect"".

What are some alternatives to "scarce prospect"?

Alternatives include "slim chance", "remote possibility", or "rare opportunity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "scarce prospect" formal or informal?

"Scarce prospect" leans towards formal usage, suitable for news articles, reports, or academic papers. In casual conversations, simpler alternatives might be more appropriate.

What does "scarce prospect" imply?

The phrase implies that whatever is being considered is not readily available or easily attainable. It suggests a degree of difficulty or unlikelihood in achieving a desired outcome.