substantial possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial possibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the likelihood or chance of an event occurring, particularly in formal or academic contexts. Example: "There is a substantial possibility that the new policy will lead to improved outcomes for the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Of course, there's also a substantial possibility that the economy will look bleaker in the months ahead.

The New York Times

There is therefore a substantial possibility that A.I.G. will be unable to meet its obligations and be forced into liquidation.

The New York Times

Justice O'Connor also fired a warning shot at what she said was the "substantial" possibility that the administration would hold Mr. Hamdi for the rest of his life.

The New York Times

Outfield seats, typically cheaper than seats closer to the plate, are suddenly prime real estate because of the substantial possibility of catching a ball or two.

The New York Times - Sports

The justices found there was "a substantial possibility that a special count would distort the voters' intentions" and said a recount would not resolve the issue fairly.

The Guardian

Based on the information gathered to date, we believe there is a substantial possibility that some of AT&T's practices may violate the General Conduct Rule.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The authors conclude that their initiative demonstrates substantial possibilities for general practice in the assessment and management of common mental disorders of children and adolescents.

BMC Family Practice

The level subsequently dropped to "substantial", indicating "an attack is a strong possibility".

Independent

It's a great time to be an angel investor because there are real possibilities of substantial company progress on so little money".

TechCrunch

This makes sense, sort of; but it means that individual taxpayers will have to maintain elaborate records, and it also opens substantial new possibilities for abuse.

The New York Times

Saying "the next 20 years of American innovation will be shaped by these 10 cutting-edge science and engineering programs," Popular Mechanics highlighted various projects at those colleges, with many of them seeming to have substantial commercial possibilities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantial possibility", ensure the context clearly indicates what the possibility pertains to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "substantial possibility" as a certainty. Instead, use qualifying language to acknowledge the inherent uncertainty, maintaining accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial possibility" functions as a noun phrase, where "substantial" modifies the noun "possibility". It serves to qualify the degree or extent of the likelihood of something happening. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

58%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial possibility" is a noun phrase denoting a significant likelihood or potential for an event to occur. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and finds common usage in both scientific and news contexts. While maintaining a neutral to formal tone, it effectively conveys that something is more than just remotely possible. When incorporating this phrase into your writing, ensure that the context provides a clear indication of the particular possibility. Alternatives such as "considerable likelihood" or "significant chance" offer similar meanings, allowing for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable likelihood

Replaces "possibility" with "likelihood" and "substantial" with "considerable", emphasizing the probability aspect.

significant chance

Substitutes "possibility" with "chance" and "substantial" with "significant", focusing on the element of randomness.

real likelihood

Uses "likelihood" instead of "possibility" and "real" instead of "substantial", indicating an authentic and tangible chance.

sizeable chance

Employs "chance" instead of "possibility" and "sizeable" instead of "substantial", highlighting the magnitude of the chance.

notable prospect

Replaces "possibility" with "prospect" and "substantial" with "notable", suggesting a potential outcome that is worthy of attention.

prominent potential

Uses "potential" instead of "possibility" and "prominent" instead of "substantial", highlighting the capability for something to develop.

strong potentiality

Replaces "possibility" with "potentiality" and "substantial" with "strong", suggesting a powerful inherent capacity.

marked probability

Employs "probability" instead of "possibility" and "marked" instead of "substantial", stressing the statistical likelihood.

good prospect

Substitutes "possibility" with "prospect" and "substantial" with "good", focusing on a positive potential outcome.

considerable opportunity

Replaces "possibility" with "opportunity" and "substantial" with "considerable", emphasizing a favorable set of circumstances.

FAQs

How can I use "substantial possibility" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial possibility" to indicate a significant chance of something occurring. For example, "There is a "substantial possibility" that the company will expand its operations next year".

What phrases are similar to "substantial possibility"?

Alternatives include "considerable likelihood", "significant chance", or "notable prospect". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "substantial possibility" or "high probability"?

Both phrases are suitable, but "substantial possibility" emphasizes the potential for something to happen, while "high probability" focuses on the statistical likelihood. Choose the phrase that best fits the specific context.

What's the difference between "substantial possibility" and "remote possibility"?

"Substantial possibility" suggests a significant chance of occurrence, whereas "remote possibility" implies that something is unlikely to happen. They represent opposite ends of the spectrum of likelihood.