will possibly not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will possibly not" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing uncertainty about a future event or action that may not occur. Example: "The project will possibly not be completed by the deadline due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Even if Heath Ledger's version of the Joker has these, don't try to make a Glasgow-smile on yourself, it hurts like hell and your parents will possibly not be happy about it.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"This will involve possibly not using a tier, or an area of a ground, in some of the venues.

BBC

Moreover, a single MDG will most possibly not be achieved in a country where all remaining MDGs have not been reached.

Global Health Action

If all goes as expected, the chancellor will replace one, possibly not very effective, tax on high earners with a collection of other taxes on the rich, whose effectiveness will be even more difficult to judge.

BBC

What will come next?Possibly not much.

The Economist

2.28pm Play will possibly maybe probably not no chance start at 3pm.

The Guardian - Sport

For instance, given that participants are instructed to find the target and that the trial ends when they report its orientation, it is likely that the last fixation registered in each trial will usually (although possibly not always) be directed towards the target.

Behavior Research Methods

Possibly there will be fewer abortions (possibly not, it's difficult to say), but it is certain that abortions will be less safe, raising the risk that women could die during the procedure.

The New York Times

She will possibly make it, but not in the timeframe she wants.

The Guardian

The answer, unfortunately, is yes: sooner or later, this will be inevitable, and possibly not without some violent turmoil.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the very long run, as other competing technologies emerge, the function will reach its maximum, possibly not reaching 100%% saturation, and subsequently be phased out (not shown in Fig. 5).

Journal of Shipping and Trade

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "will possibly not" when you want to express a moderate level of uncertainty about a future event. It's stronger than "might not" but weaker than "definitely will not."

Common error

Avoid using "will possibly not" when you actually believe something is highly unlikely. In such cases, phrases like "is unlikely to" or "probably won't" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will possibly not" functions as a modal phrase expressing a degree of uncertainty regarding a future event. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. This contrasts with stronger negations or assertions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "will possibly not" is a versatile tool for expressing uncertainty about future events. Ludwig AI indicates it is correct and suitable for use in written English. While grammatically sound and widely understood, it's important to consider the context and desired level of formality when choosing between "will possibly not" and alternatives like "might not" or "is unlikely to". As Ludwig's examples show, this phrase commonly appears in news, scientific, and general contexts to convey a measured degree of doubt.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might not

Indicates a possibility that something will not happen.

may not

Similar to "might not", expresses a possibility of something not occurring.

is unlikely to

Suggests a low probability of something happening.

probably won't

Indicates a strong likelihood that something will not occur.

is doubtful to

Expresses uncertainty about a future event.

could potentially not

Emphasizes the potential for something not to happen.

is not expected to

Suggests that something is not anticipated to happen.

is not anticipated to

Implies that something is not foreseen or expected to occur.

is not projected to

Suggests a formal assessment indicates something is not going to happen.

is not deemed likely to

Indicates a judgment that something is improbable.

FAQs

What does "will possibly not" mean?

The phrase "will possibly not" suggests that something has a chance of not happening in the future. It conveys uncertainty but implies that the event is still within the realm of possibility, though not guaranteed.

When should I use "will possibly not" in a sentence?

Use "will possibly not" when you want to express a moderate level of uncertainty about a future event. It is appropriate when there are factors that could prevent the event from occurring, but it is not entirely improbable. For stronger uncertainty, consider /s/might+not or /s/may+not.

What are some alternatives to "will possibly not"?

Alternatives to "will possibly not" include "might not", "may not", "is unlikely to", or "probably won't". The best choice depends on the degree of uncertainty you wish to convey.

Is "will possibly not" formal or informal?

The phrase "will possibly not" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might prefer alternatives like "is unlikely to" for a more sophisticated sound.