small possibility of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "small possibility of" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is commonly used to indicate a likelihood of something occurring, but with a slight chance. For example: "There is a small possibility of rain later today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

There's always the (small?) possibility of a statement from the Monetary Policy Committee.

The Guardian - Business

The small possibility of a last 16 clash with Ukraine would also be a potential nightmare for tournament organisers.

The Guardian - Sport

No one has been dropped and there is only a small possibility of any change to the final XI.

The Guardian - Sport

In late 2007, the Writers Guild of America went on strike, and the small possibility of parts dried up.

The New York Times

But in quantum mechanics, there is a small possibility of "tunneling" through the bump, and finding the new, lower energy region.

The Guardian

It is critical that patients and their clinicians realize the small possibility of a misdiagnosis and insist on re-review at the institution where therapy will be performed.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

There is a small possibility [of him playing against Chelsea].

The Times

Some studies are small with a diminished possibility of detecting a smaller association.

BMJ Open

To concentrate on this country alone, without the Situationists, there would have been no Sex Pistols, with all that entails, a distinctly smaller possibility of Iain Sinclair- or Will Self-ian psychogeographical dérives, and a whole tranche of associated cultural inspiration would have gone missing.

The Guardian - Books

Preschool officials emailed parents to inform them about the incident and held a meeting, describing the mix-up as "unfortunate" and promising to reexamine the snack preparation process "to rule out the smallest possibility of an occurrence like this from happening again," according to Hawaii News Now.

The Washington Post

Robinson speculates that there is a "solid possibility of finding fossil traces of life and a smaller possibility of finding existing life, under the surface" of Mars.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "small possibility of", ensure the context clearly indicates that the event is not highly probable. This prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "small possibility of" when the chance is negligible or non-existent. It can mislead readers into believing there is a tangible chance when there isn't.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small possibility of" functions as a qualifier, modifying a noun phrase to indicate that the likelihood of a particular event or outcome is low. It suggests that while the event is not impossible, it is not particularly probable. This aligns with examples from Ludwig and the Ludwig AI's affirmation of its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "small possibility of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote a low probability or chance of something occurring. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, though it appears most frequently in news, media and scientific writing. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the context aligns with a genuinely low likelihood to avoid misleading the audience. Alternatives like "slight chance of" or "remote chance of" can provide similar nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight chance of

Replaces "possibility" with "chance" and "small" with "slight", indicating a minor alteration in phrasing.

remote chance of

Uses "remote" instead of "small" to emphasize the unlikelihood of the event.

slim chance of

Substitutes "small" with "slim", suggesting a very low probability.

low probability of

Replaces "possibility" with the more formal term "probability".

slight likelihood of

Uses "likelihood" instead of "possibility" and "slight" instead of "small", keeping a similar meaning.

limited potential for

Shifts the focus to "potential" rather than "possibility", suggesting a restricted capacity.

minimal risk of

Focuses on "risk" rather than "possibility", highlighting the potential negative outcome.

a touch of hope for

More idiomatic, using "a touch of hope" to suggest a minimal but existing positive expectation.

faint hope of

Replaces "small possibility" with a metaphor indicating minimal optimism.

unlikely prospect of

Emphasizes the improbability by using "unlikely prospect" instead of "small possibility".

FAQs

How can I use "small possibility of" in a sentence?

Use "small possibility of" to indicate a low likelihood or chance of something occurring. For example, "There is a small possibility of rain tomorrow".

What are some alternatives to "small possibility of"?

You can use alternatives like "slight chance of", "remote chance of", or "slim chance of" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "small possibility of" or "low probability of"?

Both "small possibility of" and "low probability of" are correct, but "low probability of" is more formal and often used in scientific or technical contexts.

What's the difference between "small possibility of" and "small chance of"?

The phrases "small possibility of" and "small chance of" are largely interchangeable and have the same meaning. The choice often comes down to stylistic preference.