would you likely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would you likely" is not correct in standard written English.
It is generally used to ask someone about the probability of a certain action or event occurring, but the combination of "would" and "likely" is awkward. Example: "Would you likely attend the meeting if it were scheduled for next week?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In which section of a bookstore would you likely to find Dr. Wilson's book? 3. Review with students that, according to Dr. Wilson, one of the most important aspects of robotic technology comes in the form of "smart" houses.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"He told me, 'The way you think about things would make you likely to do well and finish.' ".

Science Magazine

Would you be more likely to fall prey to a lightning strike?

The New York Times

Would you be more likely to use one if it were free?

The New York Times

So where would you be least likely to find a polling station?

BBC

Which social media service would you be most likely to pay for?

TechCrunch

Which candidate would you be more likely to support?

Huffington Post

To which approach would you be most likely to reveal your authentic nature?

Huffington Post

Would you be more likely to provide a fingerprint to an FSW recruiter (for FSW focus groups)?

Globalization and Health

If you had to give up what you do tomorrow and switch career completely, what would you be most likely to do?

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Would you be more likely to react that way now?

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and intended meaning when choosing a substitute; "probably" suggests a higher degree of certainty than "likely".

Common error

Avoid combining "would" and "likely" directly, as it often results in an awkward phrasing. Instead, rephrase the sentence to use "would" in a conditional clause or replace "likely" with "probably" for a smoother expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would you likely" functions as an interrogative construction aimed at assessing the probability or likelihood of an action or event. However, Ludwig AI identifies this phrasing as grammatically incorrect. It is often used to inquire about someone's intentions or expectations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "would you likely" appears in various contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect and awkward in standard English. Ludwig AI flags this phrase, recommending alternatives like "are you likely to" or "would you probably". Its function is to inquire about the probability of an event or action. For clearer and more effective communication, it is best to opt for these grammatically sound alternatives. Examples show its use across news, science, and wiki sources, but its low frequency suggests avoiding it in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would you probably

Substitutes "likely" with "probably", offering a more common and grammatically sound alternative.

are you likely to

Replaces "would" with "are", focusing on the current probability or expectation.

will you likely

Changes "would" to "will" to indicate future probability.

how likely are you to

Transforms the phrase into a question assessing the degree of likelihood.

is it likely that you would

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the likelihood of a hypothetical situation.

are you expected to

Shifts the focus to expectation rather than probability.

do you think you would

Replaces the direct statement with a question about one's own belief.

are you inclined to

Suggests a tendency or willingness rather than a strict probability.

in what circumstances would you

Focuses on the conditions that would make an action likely.

under what conditions would you

Similar to the previous alternative, emphasizing the circumstances influencing the likelihood.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "would you probably" in a sentence?

Use "would you probably" to inquire about a likely action. For example, "Would you probably attend the conference if it were held in New York?"

What's a more formal way to ask if someone is likely to do something?

A more formal approach involves using "are you expected to". Example: "Are you expected to present at the upcoming seminar?"

Which is the better phrasing: "would you likely" or "are you likely to"?

"Are you likely to" is generally preferred in standard English. "Would you likely" is considered awkward and grammatically incorrect by many.

In what kind of situations should I use "how likely are you to"?

Use "how likely are you to" when you want to gauge the degree of probability or willingness. For instance, "How likely are you to recommend this product to others?"