I think that these, believe it or not, convey distinct meanings and aren’t redundant. They use slightly different senses of the words.

For example:

“It’s possibly possible for humans to colonize Mars/create sentient AI.”

“It’s possibly possible for me to lift 400 pounds if I became a bodybuilder.”

“It’s possibly possible for Earth to combine with another planet”.

That is, it may be possible for humans to colonize Mars or create sentient AIs, or for you to lift 400 pounds, but we don’t know yet. (Without making empirical claims, let’s assume for sake of example that we know this to be true.) The first meaning of possibility relates to chance/probability whereas the second relates to ability/capability/feasibility. Another way to express it more clearly is “It’s potentially possible/there’s a chance that it’s possible/capable of happening or being done”. To just say “It’s possible” might convey the same meaning, but risks confusing/conflating it with saying that it’s definitely or even currently possible, rather than hypothetically (either physically/nomologically or just logically) possible in the sense of not currently being able to rule it out, falsify/disprove it or prove it either way (but having reason to think it could happen in some scenario).

“It’s not necessarily necessary for you to wear a tie to the meeting, they might not care.”

“It’s not necessarily necessary to use antibiotics to treat the infection”.

It may be necessary (in achieving a stipulated goal/outcome, such as success in getting a job or promotion, or tackling an infection) for some conditions or event/actions to be true/occur like wearing a tie or using antibiotics, but not definitely (we can’t guarantee it would be required). First necessary relates to degree of certainty/confidence/conviction or accuracy/completeness of what you’re saying, second relates to its requirement for serving a purpose (whether or not the purpose is itself necessary/required in any way). One way to say it might be “It’s not definitely/absolutely/guaranteed to be required/essential”.

How speak?

  • meejle@lemmy.world
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    21 hours ago

    What’s a better way to say “possibly possible”?

    That is, it may be possible for humans to colonize Mars or create sentient AIs, or for you to lift 400 pounds, but we don’t know yet.

    You answered your own question. 😁

    • SeahorseTreble@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 day ago

      This feels like a roundabout rubegoldbergian conclusion. I’ll take it. However, what if you want to phrase it like a noun in the form of “The possible possibility” or “The maybe-not necessity/not necessarily necessary necessity/uncertain necessity”? Can’t say “The maybe possibility” or “The maybe necessity” now can you? And what about as an adjective? “It’s maybe possible”? It’s maybe not necessary"? These are too either boggled or clunky.

      • boydster@sh.itjust.works
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        22 hours ago

        “The maybe possibility” is literally “the possibility” wtf are you on about

        Edit: you misunderstand how to use the word “maybe.” Something that “could maybe happen” is something that might possibly happen. In other words, it “may be” a thing that happens. Maybe.

      • ltxrtquq@lemmy.ml
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        22 hours ago

        “The possible possibility” -> “The possibility” As someone else said, it’s just redundant here.

        The first meaning of possibility relates to chance/probability whereas the second relates to ability/capability/feasibility

        This is simply untrue, possibility doesn’t relate to probability except in a very binary yes/no, something is possible.

        “It’s not necessarily necessary for you to wear a tie to the meeting, they might not care.” -> It’s not always necessary…

        “The maybe necessity” -> The necessity of blank is still being debated

        “It’s maybe not necessary” -> it may not be necessary

        The second one would depend on the context, you could change things around or describe the uncertainty in other ways. The third one I think you’re just getting too stuck on a particular order for these words you want to use.

  • DomeGuy@lemmy.world
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    22 hours ago

    “possibly possible” is either redundant or unclear. Try:

    • Plausible
    • Conceivable
    • Possible

    “Not Necessarily necessary” is definitely redundant and unclear. Try:

    • Not necessary
    • Unnecessary
    • May not be necessary

    (Unless you’re talking about taking antibiotics for anything but a bacterial infection, in which case “wasteful and dangerous” is better phrasing.)

  • ClownStatue@piefed.social
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    1 day ago

    I think it is redundant. The word “possible” is already vague. Adding “possibly” just adds vagueness to something that’s already vague. Another way to look at it:

    “It’s possible.” == It can happen. Doesn’t necessarily mean it will, just that is could/can.

    “It’s possibly possible.” == means the same thing.

    • blackbrook@mander.xyz
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      4 hours ago

      Simply taking out the possibly to make “It’s possible for me to lift 400 pounds if I became a bodybuilder” does not work. “It’s possible” means right now and does not work with the if part. What’s needed is something like the subjunctive or a tense change.

      “It would be possible for me to lift 400 pounds if I became a bodybuilder.”

      “It will be possible for me to lift 400 pounds after I became a bodybuilder.”

  • comfy@lemmy.ml
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    23 hours ago

    Some options:

    • Hypothetically, […]
    • Theoretically, […]
    • It’s hypothetically possible
    • It’s theoretically possible
    • It could be possible
    • It’s not impossible

    • It’s not mandatory
    • It’s optional (only applies to the first example)
    • You don’t always need to
    • It’s not always necessary
    • It might not be necessary

    I’m not thinking too hard on this, but since you say each of the words convey distinct meanings, maybe try and find a synonym for each meaning of that word. That could work.

  • fakir@piefed.social
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    22 hours ago

    Using a similar but different word?
    It’s likely / mostly / rather possible / necessary.