small odds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small odds" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a low probability of something happening. For example, "There are small odds that it will rain tomorrow." Alternative expressions include "slim chances," "low likelihood," and "minor probability."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

It makes small odds that the Australian press has already dubbed Gehry's building the "brown bag".

The Guardian - Arts

Yet when millions of driverless cars take to the roads, small odds can build up to a daily occurrence.

The Guardian

The genetic architecture of MS is complex, where genetic risk has been attributed to over 100 polymorphic loci each with small odds ratios.

Molecular and Cellular Probes

The associated alleles present small odds ratios (the odds of a risk variant being present in cases vs. controls) and suggest causative involvement of gene regulatory mechanisms in SZ. (2) Polygenic inheritance.

Brain Research Bulletin

This quantity cannot be trapped by highly significant P-values associated with small odds ratios, because it focuses on a (statistically corrected) estimate of the odds ratio itself.

Plosone

Even after removing redundant sequences with greater than 45% sequence identity, 26 species remained, leading to vanishingly small odds that TIGR03309 is not closely connected to selenium metabolism.

Biology Direct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Much smaller odds of a cold beer dumped on your head.

The New York Times - Sports

The reason is the drive towards reliably detecting risk-SNPs that have smaller odds ratios and lower allele frequency.

Wikipedia

This week, the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to land the first overall pick with just 1.70% odds of doing so, which is tied with the Chicago Bulls in 2008, as the teams with the smallest odds of receiving the No. 1 overall pick over the last decade.

Huffington Post

Being a layperson who doesn't spend his time über-hawkishly writing science-fiction (though I'll be the first to admit to occasional paranoia), I'll even go so far as to hazard the guess that there are even smaller odds that my fellow commoners have really any idea about one particularly lifeless vestige of Cold War era fail-deadly deterrence: Russia's Dead Hand.

Vice

Weekly alcohol drinkers had smaller odds of abstinence.

Addiction

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In the context of the term 'odds ratio' in statistics, always pair it with adjectives like 'small' or 'large' to describe the effect size.

Common error

Avoid using "small odds" when you mean something is likely to win in a betting context. In gambling, "short odds" actually refer to a high probability of success (the favorite), whereas "small odds" usually implies the opposite—a low probability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small odds" functions as a noun phrase where "small" acts as a qualifying adjective. In technical contexts identified by Ludwig, it often serves as a shorthand for "small odds ratios", a standard measure in statistics and genetics.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

General Writing

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "small odds" is a linguistically correct and highly effective way to denote a low probability. According to Ludwig AI data, it is a staple in scientific discourse, particularly when discussing risk factors, genetic associations and statistical outcomes. While synonyms like "slim chances" may be preferred in casual speech, "small odds" maintains a professional and precise tone. Writers should be mindful of the specific context—especially in gambling—but otherwise, it is a versatile tool for any formal or data-driven text.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slim chances

More idiomatic and common in everyday conversation than the QUERY.

low probability

A more technical and formal alternative often used in mathematical or risk-assessment contexts.

little likelihood

Focuses on the expectation of an event rather than the mathematical ratio.

poor odds

Suggests a negative outlook or a disadvantageous position in gambling or competitive contexts.

remote possibility

Emphasizes that the event is technically possible but highly unlikely.

slight chance

A very common and softer alternative for informal or neutral writing.

minor probability

Uses a different adjective to denote size, though less common in statistical literature than low or small.

thin chances

A more descriptive, almost metaphorical way to describe unlikely outcomes.

faint probability

Suggests the chance is barely detectable or extremely weak.

negligible odds

Implies that the probability is so low it can be safely ignored.

FAQs

How to use "small odds" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a low likelihood, such as: "There are small odds of a recurrence given the treatment results." or "The study found several genetic variants with "small odds ratios"."

What can I say instead of "small odds"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "slim chances", "low probability", or "slight chance".

What is the difference between "small odds" and "low odds"?

Both refer to a low probability. However, "low odds" is more common in general conversation, while "small odds" frequently appears in scientific literature alongside technical terms like 'ratios'.

Is "small odds" correct in scientific writing?

Yes, it is highly appropriate. As seen in Ludwig AI examples from journals like Nature and PubMed, scientists frequently use it to describe "small effects" or specific statistical measurements.