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4Likes- 16-Aug-2011, 02:59 #1
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unlikelihood I watched a TV program about learning English which states there is no such word like "unlikelihood".But I found out a lot of hits online. Could anyone tell me if it exists in today's world?
- 16-Aug-2011, 04:59 #2
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Teacher Re: unlikelihood Yes- you'll find it in many dictionaries: Definitions of unlikelihood - OneLook Dictionary Search
- 16-Aug-2011, 11:50 #3
Harmless drudge
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Teacher Re: unlikelihood I don't see much need for it though - I usually get by with 'improbability'.
b
- 16-Aug-2011, 11:53 #4
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Teacher Re: unlikelihood I use 'little/no likelihood'.
Originally Posted by BobK 
‘Unlikelihood’ seems to be used more in AmE that BrE.
Corpus figures are:
Unlikelihood – COCA: 53 (35.5%); …BNC: 14 (14%)
No likelihood: COCA: 24 (16%);……. BNC: 53 (53%)
Little likelihood – COCA:72 (48%);…BNC 33 (33%)Last edited by 5jj; 16-Aug-2011 at 12:11. Reason: Corpus figures added
- 16-Aug-2011, 13:43 #5
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Teacher Re: unlikelihood There are just two examples of it being used in the forum:
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/as...tml#post426791 (Canadian English)
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/as...tml#post318335 (Australian English)
(I don't use it either.)
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