soonest chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "soonest chance" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used to express a desire to take action at the earliest opportunity, although more common phrases are preferred. Example: "Please let me know your availability at the soonest chance so we can schedule the meeting."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Because instantly, your mind goes to all the chances between now and the soonest chance for them to come home for something to go very, very wrong.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Looking forward to the opportunity to serve you soonest, and really hope to present our work upon receive your contact.

TechCrunch

Thinking about the agony and self deception of Leafs fans, and watching an inferior Senators team hang with one of the most explosive offensive teams of the past decade got me wondering: which Canadian team really has the best chance of ending Canada's twenty year old cup drought the soonest?

Vice

The continuing lackluster recovery from the Great Recession, combined with the economic hit from the partial federal government shutdown this month, have analysts predicting that there's little chance Fed policymakers will vote to scale back the program until early 2014 at the soonest.

Los Angeles Times

Please correct soonest.

The Guardian - Books

"Hi Bro, Leaving soonest for train to Leicester.

The Guardian - Books

The soonest the licences will be awarded is in early 2014.

The Economist

"What can we eat soonest?" she asked her brother.

The New York Times - Style

"It wasn't the soonest that the dates make sense, but the soonest we could make it work," Bates said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Least said, soonest mended" is Capello's mantra.

Independent

* A Special General Meeting will be convened soonest to elect a new chairman.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common alternatives like "earliest opportunity" or "as soon as possible" for clearer communication, especially in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "soonest chance" in contexts where a more direct phrase like "as soon as possible" would sound more natural. Overusing "soonest chance" can make your writing sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "soonest chance" functions as an adverbial modifier specifying when an action can or should occur. It indicates the immediacy or priority of seizing an opportunity, though Ludwig suggests this phrasing is not the most standard.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "soonest chance" describes acting at the earliest possible opportunity. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig indicates it's less common than alternatives like "earliest opportunity" or "as soon as possible". It is mostly found in news and media contexts. Due to its infrequent usage, employing more common phrases might enhance clarity and avoid awkwardness in formal writing. Although understandable, consider other options for more effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

soonest opportunity

Direct synonym replacement of 'chance' maintains meaning focusing on speed.

earliest opportunity

Replaces "soonest chance" with a more formal and common expression emphasizing the availability of a chance.

quickest possibility

Substitutes "soonest chance" with a focus on the speed of the possibility occurring.

earliest prospect

Replaces "chance" with "prospect", highlighting anticipation of a favorable outcome at the earliest time.

immediate opportunity

Emphasizes the immediacy of the chance, suggesting it's available right now.

first available chance

Highlights that this is the initial chance and no other opportunity comes before this one.

next possible chance

Focuses on the next upcoming opportunity, differing subtly by pinpointing a specific future instance.

the first chance one gets

Idiomatic alternative; focuses on individual's agency in seizing opportunity.

at the earliest moment possible

More verbose alternative emphasizing speed and feasibility.

as soon as a chance arises

Expresses the concept as waiting for a chance to become available.

FAQs

How can I use "soonest chance" in a sentence?

While "soonest chance" is grammatically correct, it's less common than other options. You might say, "I'll address this at the "earliest opportunity"" or "I will contact you as "soon as possible"".

What are some alternatives to using "soonest chance"?

Some alternatives include ""earliest opportunity"", "as soon as possible", "quickest possibility", or "first available chance".

Is it better to say "soonest opportunity" or "soonest chance"?

"Soonest opportunity" is slightly more common and generally sounds more natural than "soonest chance", although both are acceptable. Using alternatives like ""earliest opportunity"" is often preferable.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "soonest chance"?

You can use "soonest chance" when you want to emphasize doing something at the very first available opportunity. However, consider whether a more common phrase like "as soon as possible" or ""earliest opportunity"" might be clearer and more effective.