was merely possible

USAGE SUMMARY

"was merely possible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something was not certain, but had the potential to happen. For example, "It was merely possible that the storm would pass without damaging the town, but in the end the destruction was significant."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Aristotle in his Poetics insisted that literature should reflect nature that even highly idealized characters should possess recognizable human qualities and that what was probable took precedence over what was merely possible.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Accordingly, they constitute the world's "fixed form" (2.022 3): the character of any possible world is constrained by the objects because all possible atomic states of affairs are configurations of them (On Wittgenstein's conception of possibility, the notion of an "alien" Tractarian object — one which is merely possible — is not even intelligible).

SEP

And we must execute murderers as long as it is merely possible that their execution protects citizens from future murder".

The New York Times

The study emphasized, however, that these outcomes are not inevitable; they are merely possible if sufficient effort isn't put into countering the problems.

The New York Times

The questions readers ought to ask when confronting a "what-if" as opposed to "what-is" article are: Does the writer make it clear what is known, what is probable, and what is merely possible?

The New York Times - Science

In this kind of video game, often described as an "open world" game, there is a difference between action that is required by the game in the course of the narrative and the action that is merely possible within the bounds the game; this further complicates the question of whether the capacity for some types of play should be removed.

The New Yorker

"This is not a case in which it is merely possible for a court to think of a rational basis on which Congress might have perceived an attenuated link between the powers underlying the federal criminal statutes and the challenged federal criminal provision," Justice Alito added, saying there was in this case at least "a substantial link".

The New York Times

Senior executives didn't dare propose things that were merely possible.

TechCrunch

One solution is to abandon actualism and accept that there are merely possible objects.

SEP

Hence there could only be indiscernible actual substances if there were indiscernible ones which were merely possible.

SEP

Therefore, it is merely possible to state generally that the contaminant levels during production and 12 25 years after production are of the same level or only slightly different.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, employ "was merely possible" to introduce a theoretical concept or a potential explanation that requires further investigation, ensuring that you clearly differentiate it from established facts or proven theories.

Common error

Avoid using "was merely possible" when you intend to convey a high likelihood or probability. This phrase indicates a lower degree of certainty and should not replace terms that suggest a strong chance of occurrence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was merely possible" functions as a modal qualifier, indicating a potential or hypothetical situation that existed in the past but was not guaranteed to occur. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and can be used to indicate something that had the potential to happen.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was merely possible" is a versatile expression used to indicate that a past event or situation had the potential to occur but was not certain. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various writing styles. As demonstrated by the examples, this phrase appears across diverse contexts such as science, news, and encyclopedias, indicating its wide applicability.

When using "was merely possible", it's important to distinguish it from expressions of high probability and consider its neutrality in register. Related phrases like "was just conceivable" offer subtle variations in meaning. Finally, remember that this expression denotes contingency rather than certainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was only a possibility

Emphasizes that it was one potential outcome among others.

was just conceivable

Replaces 'possible' with 'conceivable', suggesting a slightly lower degree of likelihood.

was theoretically viable

Focuses on whether it could happen in theory, regardless of practical considerations.

was hypothetically achievable

Similar to 'theoretically viable', stressing the hypothetical nature.

was remotely feasible

Indicates a low probability of happening.

was potentially attainable

Highlights the ability to achieve something, although without guarantee.

was barely within the realm of possibility

Conveys that the event was improbable.

was not beyond the bounds of possibility

A more formal way of saying something was possible.

was within the scope of what could happen

Focuses on the range of potential events.

was a chance event

Indicates that it had only a small chance to happen

FAQs

How do I use "was merely possible" in a sentence?

Use "was merely possible" to indicate that something had a potential to occur, but it was not certain or definite. For example, "It was merely possible that the project would succeed, but many challenges remained".

What are some alternatives to "was merely possible"?

You can use alternatives like "was just conceivable", "was only a possibility", or "was remotely feasible" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "was merely possible" and "was likely"?

"Was merely possible" suggests a potential outcome that is not guaranteed, while "was likely" suggests a higher probability of occurrence. The former indicates uncertainty, whereas the latter suggests a strong chance of happening.

Is "was merely possible" formal or informal?

"Was merely possible" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is a neutral phrase that can be used in academic writing, news articles, or casual conversations without being out of place.