whose possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whose possibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the potential or likelihood associated with a particular subject or situation. Example: "The project was intriguing, whose possibility of success depended on various factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

I thought it gave an added dimension of sorrow — a young couple whose possibility of raising a family was lost.

The New Yorker

The blogosphere did not exactly greet these plans - whose possibility was previously explored in the Hollywood trade publications last year - rapturously.

The New York Times

"As a result of the Japan-North Korea talks, the North Korean side promised … that it will make a comprehensive and overall investigation into all the Japanese, including abduction victims and missing people whose possibility of being abducted cannot be ruled out," Abe said.

The Guardian

A necessary being is one whose possibility entails its existence, and whose nonexistence entails its impossibility.

SEP

The main role of mutation is identifying some areas of the search space whose possibility of being explored is low.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

But again, as in the case of the origin of species, this "mechanism" depends on living matter, whose possibility we can understand only in teleological terms.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

In the mid-1960s Mr. Daphnis embraced curves and spheres, whose possibilities he exploited with unflagging invention.

The New York Times - Arts

Another said that the administration was resistant to developing a "grand theory for a weapon whose possibilities they were still discovering".

The New York Times

As the name implies, this band is but the very beginning of a project whose possibilities are as yet only suggested.

The New York Times

Our highlight is the touching blues ballad A Mil Millas ("A Thousand Miles Away"), which depicts a man searching for himself but whose possibilities seem blocked to him.

The Guardian - Music

The poems are correspondingly claustrophobic, their vaunting aristo "realism" confined to a world whose possibilities are so shrunken as to make oblivion preferable.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whose possibility" when you want to emphasize the potential or likelihood connected to a specific entity or subject, ensuring the sentence maintains a clear possessive relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "whose possibility" when a simpler possessive or attributive adjective would suffice. For instance, instead of "the project whose possibility of failure was high", consider "the project's high failure risk" or "the highly risky project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whose possibility" functions as a possessive determiner followed by a noun, indicating a relationship between an entity and its potential or likelihood. Ludwig AI examples illustrate this possessive relationship, clarifying that the phrase connects a subject to its inherent potential.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "whose possibility" is grammatically correct and semantically sound, though relatively rare in general usage. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to link a subject with its inherent potential or likelihood. The phrase is most often found in science and news media contexts and tends toward a neutral to formal register. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "whose potential" or "whose likelihood" depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whose potential

Focuses on the inherent capacity for development or achievement, rather than the mere possibility.

whose likelihood

Emphasizes the probability of something occurring, adding a quantitative aspect.

whose probability

Stresses the mathematical likelihood of an event occurring.

whose prospect

Highlights the expectation of something happening, often positive.

whose chance

Indicates the measure of opportunity for something to occur.

whose feasibility

Addresses the practicality and workability of something.

whose viability

Concerns the ability of something to survive or succeed.

whose odds

Focuses specifically on the numerical probability of an event.

the possibility of which

Reverses the possessive structure for emphasis or stylistic variation.

whose prospect for success

Specifically emphasizes the likelihood of a positive outcome.

FAQs

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

Use "whose possibility" to link a subject with its potential or likelihood. For example, "The theory, "whose possibility" of verification is slim, remains influential."

What are some alternatives to using "whose possibility"?

Consider using phrases like "whose potential", "whose likelihood", or "whose chance" as alternatives, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to use "the possibility of which" instead of "whose possibility"?

Yes, "the possibility of which" is generally more formal and may be suitable for academic or professional writing where a more detached tone is preferred, while "whose possibility" is generally more casual.

Can "whose possibility" be used in all contexts, or are there limitations?

"Whose possibility" is suitable for contexts where you're directly relating a thing or concept to its inherent potential. Avoid using it where a simpler possessive construction would be clearer.