was probable that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was probable that" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate form would be "was probable" or "was likely that." Example: "It was probable that the event would be canceled due to the weather."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

But industry analysts said it was probable that others would follow the company's lead.

The New York Times

Mitchell agreed it was probable that many more players used steroids or H.G.H. than the roughly 90 he named.

The New York Times - Sports

He said it was probable that reams of wiretaps of the Nation of Islam had never been combed for clues.

The New York Times

His remarks went further than Farage's own judgment last Summer when he said it was probable that Assad had deployed the weapons.

The Guardian

Mr. Ahearn said it was probable that a Chinese utility would ultimately own and run the 16,000-acre solar power plant.

The New York Times

Officials said at the time that it was probable that the man had approached her because of her relationship with the mayor.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

It is probable that neither has made up his mind.

The New Yorker

It is probable that this initial misstep will be repeated.

The New York Times

"It's probable that was a farewell from Danny though.

Independent

Hence it is probable that the reasons are political.

The New York Times

It is probable that that character has been considerably misrepresented.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for the simpler and grammatically sound alternative "was likely that" instead of "was probable that" for clearer communication.

Common error

Avoid using unnecessarily complex phrasing like "was probable that". Choose simpler alternatives such as "was likely" or "it is probable" for improved readability and grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was probable that" functions as a modal expression indicating a degree of certainty or likelihood. Despite its frequency, it's often flagged as grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI analysis suggests utilizing grammatically sound alternatives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was probable that" is frequently employed to express likelihood or prediction, particularly in news and scientific reporting. However, Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it is grammatically questionable. Simpler and more direct alternatives, such as "was likely that" or "it is probable", are recommended for better clarity and grammatical correctness. Despite its common usage, opting for these alternatives can enhance the precision and professionalism of your writing. The preference towards neutral to formal registers suggests careful consideration in choosing phrasing that maintains both accuracy and grammatical soundness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was likely that

Replaces "probable" with "likely", maintaining the same meaning with a more common word.

it is likely that

Modifies the sentence structure for better flow and clarity.

was possible that

Substitutes "probable" with "possible", indicating a chance rather than a high likelihood.

it is probable

Shortens the phrase while keeping the core meaning.

it was to be expected that

Indicates something was anticipated, changing the nuance slightly.

it could be expected that

Expresses a degree of expectation or anticipation.

it was anticipated that

Focuses on the anticipation of an event.

it was foreseen that

Implies a prediction or foresight regarding an event.

it was anticipated

Reduces the complexity of the expression, making it direct.

it was reasonable to assume that

Highlights the logic behind the expectation, shifting the focus slightly.

FAQs

How can I use "was probable that" correctly in a sentence?

While frequently used, "was probable that" is considered grammatically incorrect. Consider using alternatives like "was likely that" or "it is probable".

What is a better way to phrase "was probable that"?

More appropriate alternatives include "was likely that", "it is likely that", or simply "was probable".

Is there a difference between "was probable that" and "was likely that"?

Semantically, "was probable that" and "was likely that" convey similar meanings. However, the latter is more grammatically accepted and common.

When should I use "was probable" instead of "was probable that"?

Using "was probable" directly is often more concise and grammatically correct. For example, instead of "It was probable that the event would be canceled", you can say "The event "was probable"."