Avangi  +  564808 Thu, 11 Sep 08 06:10 AM 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. Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,182 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier Plurals

	Liveinjapan  +  565149 Fri, 12 Sep 08 05:03 AM 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? Liveinjapan Joined on Sun, Feb 4 2007 Osaka, Japan Senior Member 2,280 Please feel free to correct any words I wrote.LiJ

	Avangi  +  565153 Fri, 12 Sep 08 05:13 AM It must be old fashioned!  My mother used to sing a song, "Ninety-nine out of a hundred wanna be loved.  Why don't you?" Edit.  Ah, this doesn't use the word "chance." "two out of three"   -   1,760,000 google hits! Avangi

	Liveinjapan  +  565170 Fri, 12 Sep 08 06:36 AM I know out of is used in a huge amount for the basis of hundred. I wanted to say, as for 'thousand', in a thousand sounds better to you or not. Anyway, I get natural ways to say about chances, thanks again, Avangi. Liveinjapan

	Avangi  +  565188 Fri, 12 Sep 08 08:04 AM "in a thousand" is more elegant   -   sounds better.   "out of a thousand" may be more common in casual speech in some areas. Avangi