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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Likely vs. Probable
It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, and I know that many people regard them as synonyms. However, my impression is that "probable" implies a higher degree of probability than "likely". More particularly, I would not use "probable" to describe a probability of less than 50%, whereas I might still describe events with a probability of, say, 30% as likely.
Any thoughts?
Jonathan Bray
Any thoughts?
Jonathan Bray
Top answer
[nq:1]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, and I know that many people regard them as synonyms. [/nq] Parsing helps (thus usage requires context). We have the adjective likely and the adverb likely and the adjective probable and the adverb probably.
- [nq:1]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, and I know that many people regard them as synonyms.
- [/nq] Parsing helps (thus usage requires context).
- We have the adjective likely and the adverb likely and the adjective probable and the adverb probably.
- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
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31 Answers
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[nq:1]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, and I know that many people regard them as synonyms. ... a probability of less than 50%, whereas I might still describe events with a probability of, say, 30% as likely.[/nq]
Parsing helps (thus usage requires context).
We have the adjective likely
and the adverb likely
and the adjective probable
and the
Parsing helps (thus usage requires context).
We have the adjective likely
and the adverb likely
and the adjective probable
and the
00
[nq:1]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, and I know that many people regard them as synonyms.[/nq]
Synonyms? Not ****** probable!
Ross Howard
Synonyms? Not ****** probable!
Ross Howard
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Jonathan Bray wrote on 09 Aug 2004:
[nq:1]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, and I know that many people regard them as synonyms. ... of less than 50%, whereas I might still describe events with a probability of, say, 30% as likely. Any thoughts?[/nq]
My Tokyo motorcycle-club president felt the same way about a 30% probability of rain. Whenever the probabi
[nq:1]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, and I know that many people regard them as synonyms. ... of less than 50%, whereas I might still describe events with a probability of, say, 30% as likely. Any thoughts?[/nq]
My Tokyo motorcycle-club president felt the same way about a 30% probability of rain. Whenever the probabi
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[nq:2]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, and I know that many people regard them as synonyms.[/nq]
[nq:1]Synonyms? Not ****** probable![/nq]
A probable story!
Bob Lieblich
Probable as not to get it wrong
[nq:1]Synonyms? Not ****** probable![/nq]
A probable story!
Bob Lieblich
Probable as not to get it wrong
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[nq:2]Synonyms? Not ****** probable![/nq]
[nq:1]A probable story![/nq]
Bob? Is that you? The guy who went out with The Girl Most Probable To?
Ross Howard
[nq:1]A probable story![/nq]
Bob? Is that you? The guy who went out with The Girl Most Probable To?
Ross Howard
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On 8 Aug 2004 18:36:09 GMT, CyberCypher
[nq:1]Jonathan Bray wrote on 09 Aug 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, ... with a probability of, say, 30% as likely. Any thoughts?[/nq]
[nq:1]My Tokyo motorcycle-club president felt the same way about a 30% probability of rain. Whenever the probability of rain was ... me, one is more formal and
[nq:1]Jonathan Bray wrote on 09 Aug 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, ... with a probability of, say, 30% as likely. Any thoughts?[/nq]
[nq:1]My Tokyo motorcycle-club president felt the same way about a 30% probability of rain. Whenever the probability of rain was ... me, one is more formal and
00
[nq:1]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, and I know that many people regard them as synonyms. ... of less than 50%, whereas I might still describe events with a probability of, say, 30% as likely. Any thoughts?[/nq]
I don't attach any relative probability to them myself.
David Dyer-Bennet, , RKBA: Pics: Dragaera/Steven Brust:
I don't attach any relative probability to them myself.
David Dyer-Bennet, , RKBA: Pics: Dragaera/Steven Brust:
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Ross Howard wrote on 09 Aug 2004:
[nq:2]Jonathan Bray wrote on 09 Aug 2004: My Tokyo motorcycle-club ... but they imply the same chance that something will happen.[/nq]
[nq:1]Also, as Bob L. and I are currently demonstrating by messing around, they're not interchangeable in quite a large number of specific syntactic and idiomatic circumstances.[/nq]
The theory that all the parts of idi
[nq:2]Jonathan Bray wrote on 09 Aug 2004: My Tokyo motorcycle-club ... but they imply the same chance that something will happen.[/nq]
[nq:1]Also, as Bob L. and I are currently demonstrating by messing around, they're not interchangeable in quite a large number of specific syntactic and idiomatic circumstances.[/nq]
The theory that all the parts of idi
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[nq:1]Jonathan Bray wrote on 09 Aug 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, ... with a probability of, say, 30% as likely. Any thoughts?[/nq]
[nq:1]My Tokyo motorcycle-club president felt the same way about a 30% probability of rain. Whenever the probability of rain was 30% or higher, he cancelled any scheduled trip because he felt that it was
[nq:2]It appears from OED that "likely" and probable" are interchangeable, ... with a probability of, say, 30% as likely. Any thoughts?[/nq]
[nq:1]My Tokyo motorcycle-club president felt the same way about a 30% probability of rain. Whenever the probability of rain was 30% or higher, he cancelled any scheduled trip because he felt that it was
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On 8 Aug 2004 19:10:53 GMT, CyberCypher
[nq:1]Ross Howard wrote on 09 Aug 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]Also, as Bob L. and I are currently demonstrating by ... quite a large number of specific syntactic and idiomatic circumstances.[/nq]
[nq:1]The theory that all the parts of idioms are fixed seems to have been blown out of the oil by ... "probably". But there is the expression "That's a likely sto
[nq:1]Ross Howard wrote on 09 Aug 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]Also, as Bob L. and I are currently demonstrating by ... quite a large number of specific syntactic and idiomatic circumstances.[/nq]
[nq:1]The theory that all the parts of idioms are fixed seems to have been blown out of the oil by ... "probably". But there is the expression "That's a likely sto
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