weak possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"weak possibility" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is unlikely to happen. For example: There is a weak possibility that the team will win the championship this year.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

(Saucedo attempts to establish the existence of such a model more rigorously on the basis of some very weak possibility claims, but the argument is complex and resists compression).

SEP

Upon the activation of the disease PTC, mir-34a and mir-21 are active and thereby the weak possibility of the activation and association of cholangiocarcinoma and melanoma.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The first results of CT perfusion (CTP) of the liver appeared in the late 80's and early 90's of the twentieth century, but the weak possibilities of mathematical data processing and the low resolving power of tomographs limited their use for this purpose (Miles, 1991; Rees, 1992; Miles et al., 1993; Kuang, 2009).

European Journal of Hybrid Imaging

We consider this to be the weaker possibility because they had the same training and they had a similar level of knowledge before the experiment.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

There is also a third, still weaker possibility (Scheffler 1992, 32): it might simply be the case that if the agent had recognized a prima facie duty, he would have acted on it unless he considered it to be overridden.

SEP

The largest-amplitude possibilities are what BICEP2 was sensitive to, but future observations and experiments may reveal a signal, if the weaker possibilities are descriptive of our physical Universe.

Forbes

Consequently, not only is this Hadith weak, no possibility exists for corroboration or substantiation.

Huffington Post

But he said it was unknown whether that would happen again in light of the weak economy, the possibility of war and the competitive nature of entertainment.

The New York Times

The resulting Yel1-GFP fusion localised to the bud, however the fluorescence signal was weak negating the possibility of two-colour imaging with Arf3-RFP.

Plosone

But administration officials reiterated their call for an immediate package of new and accelerated tax cuts, saying the economy still faced problems, including economic weakness abroad, weak corporate profits and the possibility of a recovery, similar to the one after the last recession, in 1990-91, in which the unemployment rate remained high for months or years.

The New York Times

Uzbekistan is Central Asia's most populous country, but institutions are weak and the possibilities for violence are many.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "weak possibility" when you want to acknowledge that something could happen, but emphasize that it is unlikely to do so. This is useful in situations where you want to be complete and cover all bases, while also managing expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "weak possibility" when an event is impossible. It should only be used when there is some (however small) chance of occurrence, or you risk sounding misleading or misinformed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weak possibility" functions as a noun phrase, where 'weak' modifies 'possibility'. It describes the degree of likelihood of an event or situation. Ludwig's AI confirms that it is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "weak possibility" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey a low likelihood of an event occurring. It finds its use in diverse fields from science to news media. While alternatives like "slim chance" or "remote possibility" exist, the choice depends on the context and desired nuance. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a valid phrase in English and it's important to use it appropriately to avoid overstating the likelihood of an event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slim chance

Emphasizes the unlikelihood of something happening.

slight chance

Indicates a small likelihood of an event occurring.

remote possibility

Suggests that something is unlikely to occur or is far-fetched.

dubious prospect

Highlights uncertainty and doubt about a potential outcome.

tenuous hope

Implies a fragile and uncertain expectation.

unlikely eventuality

Focuses on the low probability of a future occurrence.

negligible likelihood

Emphasizes that the probability is so small it can be disregarded.

theoretical chance

Suggests that the possibility exists only in theory, not in practice.

questionable likelihood

Raises doubts about how probable or likely something is.

mere chance

Underscores that it relies exclusively on chance and lacks other supporting factors.

FAQs

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

You can use "weak possibility" to describe an event with a low chance of happening, as in "There's a "slim chance" he'll arrive on time, given the traffic conditions".

What phrases are similar to "weak possibility"?

Alternatives include phrases like "slight chance", "remote possibility", or "dubious prospect". Each carries a slightly different nuance about the likelihood of an event.

Is it correct to say "weaker possibility" instead of "weak possibility"?

While grammatically understandable, "weaker possibility" isn't as common or idiomatic as "weak possibility". "Weaker possibility" might suggest a possibility that is losing strength, rather than one that is inherently unlikely.

How does "weak possibility" differ from "strong possibility"?

"Weak possibility" indicates a low likelihood, whereas "strong possibility" suggests a high likelihood or probability of something occurring.