would unlikely be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would unlikely be" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "would be unlikely." Example: "It would be unlikely for the event to occur without proper planning."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The tutor we chose had had previous success but told us the four or so months she had to work with him would unlikely be enough.

The Guardian

If true, he would miss the heart of the tennis season, including the French Open and Wimbledon, and would unlikely be able to defend his title at the United States Open, which is scheduled to begin Aug. 30.

The New York Times

This meant that any differences in behaviour would unlikely be due to genetic or ecological influences.

BBC

However, at some point, further education in science would unlikely be a determining factor in acceptance of biological evolution.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

It was also impossible to determine the exact mineralogical composition because they sat on/were adhered to larger particles; if they are composed of soluble salts, again they would unlikely be a hazard, but a more bio-durable crystalline phase cannot be ruled out.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Such tools, like carbon tariffs, would unlikely be applied until a majority of nations were already well on their way to zero emissions economies.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

What would be unlikely is for the US President to rush to direct a military strike on nuclear sites in Iran.

Huffington Post

It is the only high rise building in the area, and working class people the area's original inhabitants would unlikely be able to afford the spectacular view in any other circumstance.

Vice

Hell, I'd bet it would be unlikely for next fall too.

TechCrunch

Nor does he admit that getting them through Congress — even a Democratic Congress, which is unlikely — would be impossible.

Los Angeles Times

But I would think it would be very unlikely".

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct grammatical form, which is "would be unlikely". This ensures clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid placing "unlikely" directly after "would". The correct placement is after "be" to properly modify the state of being, not the modal verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would unlikely be" is intended to express a low probability or expectation. However, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig identifies the correct form as "would be unlikely".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

46%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "would unlikely be" is a grammatically incorrect attempt to express improbability. As Ludwig explains, the proper construction is "would be unlikely". While the phrase appears in various sources, including news and scientific publications, adhering to correct grammar is essential for clear and credible communication. Alternatives like "is probably not" or "is not expected to be" can also effectively convey a similar meaning. Remember to always place the adverb "unlikely" correctly to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is hardly likely to be

Adds emphasis to the improbability using "hardly".

is improbable

Substitutes the phrase with a single adjective indicating a low probability.

has little chance of being

Emphasizes the minimal possibility of a particular outcome.

is probably not

Replaces "would unlikely be" with a more direct expression of improbability.

is doubtfully

Expresses uncertainty and improbability in a concise manner.

is not expected to be

Uses a passive construction to express the lack of expectation.

is remotely possible

Implies a very low chance of something occurring.

is against all odds

Highlights the unlikelihood by suggesting the event defies expectations.

is a long shot

Uses an idiom to describe something with a very low chance of success.

is not in the cards

Uses a figurative expression to indicate that something is not destined to happen.

FAQs

How do I correctly use the phrase "would be unlikely" in a sentence?

The correct form is "would be unlikely", with "unlikely" placed after "be". For example, "It "would be unlikely" for the event to occur without planning".

What's the difference between "would unlikely be" and "would be unlikely"?

The phrase "would unlikely be" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "would be unlikely", where "unlikely" modifies the state of being rather than the auxiliary verb "would".

Are there alternatives to "would be unlikely" that I can use?

Yes, alternatives include phrases like "is probably not", "is improbable", or "is not expected to be". These alternatives maintain a similar meaning while using different grammatical structures and word choices. For instance, you could say "It "is not expected to be" a problem" instead of "It "would be unlikely" to be a problem".

Is "would unlikely be" ever acceptable in formal writing?

No, "would unlikely be" is not considered acceptable in formal writing. It's crucial to use the grammatically correct form, "would be unlikely", in professional and academic contexts. This ensures clarity and credibility in your communication.