small chances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small chances" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the likelihood of something happening is low. Example: "There are small chances of rain tomorrow, so you might want to leave your umbrella at home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"It's much better to keep playing with the limitations you have," Nadal said, "knowing that you have small chances but fighting until the end, and that's it.

The New York Times - Sports

"Definitely, we did things that we knew would have very small chances of working," she said, until finally she and her colleagues decided that further treatment could perforate Dr. Pardi's bowel.

The New York Times - Health

What you need to win a game in Israel, where we know we'll dominate most weeks, is not what you need in the Champions League – if you are out by 10cm, you go a goal down, and we haven't been able to put our own small chances away".

The Guardian - Sport

"It was really about the small chances - Stan was better in executing the chances.

BBC

You always need to be willing to take at least small chances.

Science Magazine

High-quality food sources would attract more onlooker bees, while low quality sources have small chances to be searched.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Small chance of rain.

Independent

Maybe it's a small chance, a small possibility.

The New York Times

"They gave us a very small chance of surviving.

Independent

Yet it has only a small chance of passing.

The Economist

There is a small chance that will happen.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "small chances", ensure the context clearly indicates what outcome has limited probability. For example, specify "small chances of success" or "small chances of rain".

Common error

Avoid using "small chances" when the outcome is virtually impossible. "Negligible chances" or "no chance" might be more appropriate in such scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small chances" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "small" modifies the noun "chances". It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, indicating a low probability or limited opportunity for something to occur, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

34%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "small chances" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote a low probability or limited opportunity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and general writing. Alternatives like "slim likelihood" or "remote possibility" offer similar meanings. When using "small chances", ensure the context is clear and avoid overstating the impossibility of an outcome. This analysis provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and effectively using the phrase "small chances".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight possibility

Uses "slight" to replace "small", indicating a very small degree of possibility.

tiny probability

Replaces "chances" with "probability" and "small" with "tiny", emphasizing the extremely low likelihood.

slim likelihood

Replaces "chances" with "likelihood" and "small" with "slim", emphasizing the low probability.

little opportunity

Employs "little" instead of "small" and "opportunity" instead of "chances", indicating a scarcity of available options.

remote possibility

Substitutes "chances" with "possibility" and "small" with "remote", highlighting the unlikelihood of something occurring.

reduced odds

Replaces "chances" with "odds" and "small" with "reduced", focusing on the decreased probability of success.

limited prospects

Replaces "chances" with "prospects", shifting the focus to future outlook but retaining the sense of limitation.

meager opportunities

Employs "meager" instead of "small" and "opportunities" instead of "chances", indicating a scarcity of available options.

unlikely outcome

Substitutes "chances" with "outcome", emphasizing that something is not expected to happen.

minimal hope

Substitutes "chances" with "hope" and "small" with "minimal", suggesting a very low level of optimism.

FAQs

How can I use "small chances" in a sentence?

You can use "small chances" to indicate a low probability of something happening. For example: "There are "small chances" of the project being approved this year."

What's the difference between "small chances" and "slim chances"?

Both phrases convey a low probability, but "slim chances" might suggest an even lower likelihood than ""small chances"". The difference is subtle and context-dependent.

What are some alternatives to "small chances"?

Some alternatives include "slight possibility", "remote possibility", or "limited prospects", depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is it grammatically correct to say "small chance" instead of "small chances"?

Yes, "small chance" is also grammatically correct and can be used when referring to a single instance or considered as a general concept, while "small chances" typically refers to multiple possibilities or a general state of low probability.