thin possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thin possibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is a very small chance of something happening. Example: "There is a thin possibility that we might get the funding we need for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

She said she has kept calm by holding onto the thin possibility that he might have survived.

The New York Times

Politico reported in October that Biden might not be willing to few in the White House to sacrifice his influence in the actual Obama administration for the thin possibility of extending it.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Due to the planar, atomic thin structure, possibility of large scale preparation, high surface-to-volume ratio and suggested bandgap, MoS2-based FET has been studied in sensor applications.

Nano-Micro Letters

In fact, once you get used to the idea of something that stretches thick instead of being stretched thin, the possibilities are enormous.

The Economist

Why? Jordan feels he has been retired permanently, closing the door on the thinnest of possibilities that he can return yet again to prove to the world how great he is.

The Guardian - Sport

To explore this possibility, thin layers of biotinylated lipid mixtures were used to direct the assembly of N-strep dodecamers which carry a Strep-tag at the N-terminus of each gp10 subunit.

ACS Nano

There is almost always a long tail of possibility, however thin.

The New Yorker

The addition of nanoliposomes to chitosan and resulting nanoliposomes/chitosan blend thin films provides greater possibility of producing new materials for potential tissue engineering application.

Carbohydrate Polymers

The advantages of such thermal plasma CVD processes are the high deposition rates to obtain dense and thin layers, and the possibility of combining these thin films with thermally sprayed coatings using the same equipment.

Surface and Coatings Technology

The use of quantitative analyses to examine soil thin sections opens the possibility of considering these relationships between manured areas in greater detail and to extract more subtle spatial and temporal changes in past management.

Journal of Archaeological Science

She started the conversation with the remark, "He's hitting the bottle again and I don't even know where he's getting it!"... Earhart, whose faith in Fred Noonan was wearing thin, now faced the possibility of having to do more of the navigation on her own, even though her navigator was aboard.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thin possibility" when you want to acknowledge a chance, however small, without raising false hopes. It's ideal for situations where honesty and realism are valued.

Common error

Avoid using "thin possibility" when the actual likelihood is nonexistent. If there's truly no chance, a more direct statement is preferable to avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thin possibility" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'thin' modifies the noun 'possibility'. It describes the degree of likelihood of an event or outcome, indicating that the chance of it occurring is minimal. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thin possibility" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a slight or remote chance of something happening. Ludwig AI confirms this. It finds usage in contexts such as News & Media and Science, indicating a neutral register. While not very common, it serves the purpose of acknowledging a possibility while emphasizing its low likelihood. When using this phrase, remember to do so when you want to honestly describe a small chance, without creating false hope.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight chance

Emphasizes the small degree of probability more directly than the original phrase.

remote chance

Highlights the unlikelihood and distance from certainty.

slim chance

A more common and straightforward way to express a low probability.

tenuous hope

Shifts the focus to hope, but still implies a weak basis for it.

faint hope

Similar to tenuous hope, but more focused on the feeling of hope itself.

negligible prospect

Focuses on the future outlook being very small.

unlikely eventuality

Highlights the low probability of something eventually happening.

improbable scenario

Focuses on the situation being unlikely to occur.

outside chance

Implies that the possibility exists but is not expected.

barest minimum of hope

Emphasizes how little hope there is, making it almost nonexistent.

FAQs

What does "thin possibility" mean?

A "thin possibility" refers to a very slight or remote chance that something might happen. It suggests that the likelihood is low, but not entirely impossible.

What can I say instead of "thin possibility"?

You can use alternatives like "slight chance", "remote possibility", or "slim chance" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "thin possibility" or "slight possibility"?

Both "thin possibility" and "slight possibility" are acceptable. "Slight possibility" may be more commonly used, but "thin possibility" adds a nuanced emphasis on the fragility or insubstantial nature of the chance.

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

You might say, "There's a "thin possibility" that the project will be approved, but the funding is uncertain" or "She held onto the "thin possibility" that her missing husband was still alive."