% chance/chances

Question

"My view is that if there is a 0.1% chance of it happening that is unacceptable for a healthy volunteer"  Hi,Can is a 0.1% chance be replaced by are 0.1% chances?Does it depend on the number?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Hi,
Let us look at this logically -- not saying you are illogical. How many chance are we looking at here? Probably only one. And we are probably saying we are looking at a percentage of it.

...there is (whatever) chance of it happening...

Please wait for other responses.

Mister Micawber · Answer

.
First, percent here is an adjective, so that number is irrelevant: 0.01 percent alcohol, 50 percent alcohol.
Second, there are only two chances in total: (1) it happens and (2) it doesn't happen. The sentence speaks of the probability of one of these chances only, to wit: it happens.

Therefore: A 0.01 percent chance of it happening, a 100 percent chance of it happening.
.

Liveinjapan · Answer

Thanks, Anon. I get your point.
Googel reveals:
site:*.co.uk " percent chance --> so many hits
site:*.co.uk " percent chances --> little hits

Liveinjapan · Answer

Mister Micawber.
First, percent here is an adjective, so that number is irrelevant: 0.01 percent alcohol, 50 percent alcohol.
Second, there are only two chances in total: (1) it happens and (2) it doesn't happen. The sentence speaks of the probability of one of these chances only, tow wit: it happens.

Therefore: A 0.01 percent chance of it happening, a 100 percent chance of it happening.
.

Understand!
Thanks, Mister.

Yoong Liat · Answer

Liveinjapan
site:*.co.uk " percent chances --> little hits Not correct. (a few hits)

Liveinjapan · Answer

I get it. Thanks, YL
Is 'few fits' correct to mean about the same?

Yoong Liat · Answer

LiveinjapanI get it. Thanks, YL

Is 'few fits' correct to mean about the same?

'few hits' means 'not many hits'. 'A few hits' means 'some hits'.

There will be rain in a few areas this afternoon. NOT There will be rain in few areas this afternoon.

I hope this helps.

Liveinjapan · Answer

I get the difference. Thanks, YL.

Avangi · Answer

There are two popular ways of expressing probability: an X% chance, and A chances out of B. The first one uses singular and the second one uses plural. In my opinion you should never use "chances" when a percent is involved. You should use either one system or the other. Of course you may convert one to the other.

IF you example were a 99% chance, you would have 99 chances out of a hundred. If your example were a 1% chance, that would mean you had one chance out of 100. If your example were a 50% chance, you'd have one chance out of two. An 80% chance would be the same as four chances out of five.

Your actual example, a 0.1% chance, works out to one chance in a thousand.

- A.

Liveinjapan · Answer

a 99% chance -> 99 chances out of a hundred

a 1% chance -> one chance out of 100

a 50% chance -> one chance out of two

a 0.1% chance -> one chance in a thousand

Got it! Thank you so much, Avangi!

0.1% chance -> one chance in a thousand

By the way, why is it that I can't find 'chance out of a thousand' on Google for UK

while I can find chance in a thousand a lot?

% chance/chances

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions