That was unforeseen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "That was unforeseen" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or situation that was unexpected or not anticipated. Example: "The sudden change in weather caught everyone off guard; that was unforeseen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"We didn't experience anything that was unforeseen," Lieutenant Stansbury said.

The New York Times

This was not a catastrophe that was unforeseen.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is partly a consequence of a regional slowdown in trade that was unforeseen when the crisis broke.

The Economist

Another safety issue that was unforeseen turned out to be the hand/finger waving as it is a fairly strenuous exercise.

Cornell University

"It was caused by an event that was unforeseen by anyone, because if anybody foresaw it, you would never have insured it, we would never have originated the loan.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Likewise, techniques of protecting oneself from "giving up" the possibility for gains that were unforeseen can be explored and discussed.

Harvard University

Mechanically, the design had problems that were unforeseen in the development stage since neither project member is a mechanical engineer.

Cornell University

"In a contact-center space, it's difficult to predict spikes in the network that are unforeseen," he says.

The Washington Post

And there are other, more serious costs that were unforeseen by the dominant factions in the Administration (although there were plenty of people who did foresee them).

The New Yorker

"When you have a transition from one system to the other, you open space for criminals, you open space also for other problems that were unforeseen".

The New York Times

They want to deal with challenges now and challenges that are coming – that may be weather, climate change, economic growth – but also to be able to deal with stresses and shocks that are unforeseen.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "That was unforeseen" to describe situations where the unexpectedness has a significant impact or consequence. It adds a layer of formality compared to saying "That was unexpected".

Common error

While grammatically sound, avoid using "That was unforeseen" in very casual conversation. Simpler alternatives like "That was a surprise" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "That was unforeseen" functions as a declarative statement. It asserts that a particular event or situation was not anticipated or predicted. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

33%

Science

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "That was unforeseen" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey that something was not anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability, although its use is relatively rare. Primarily found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, it serves to express surprise or a lack of predictability. Alternatives include "that was unexpected" or "that was unanticipated", with the original phrase leaning towards a more formal register. While appropriate in many situations, avoid overusing it in very casual conversations where simpler alternatives may suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

That was unanticipated

Replaces "unforeseen" with a synonym that emphasizes the lack of prior anticipation.

That was unexpected

Uses a more common synonym for "unforeseen", making it slightly less formal.

That came as a surprise

Shifts the focus to the feeling of surprise caused by the event.

That was not predicted

Emphasizes the lack of prediction rather than foresight.

That was unpredicted

A less common but semantically similar alternative.

That was a bolt from the blue

Uses an idiom to describe the sudden and unexpected nature of the event.

That was out of the blue

Similar to 'a bolt from the blue', this idiom conveys unexpectedness.

That took us by surprise

Focuses on the action of being surprised.

That caught us off guard

Indicates a lack of preparedness due to the unexpected event.

That was beyond anticipation

Highlights that the event exceeded any possible anticipation.

FAQs

How can I use "That was unforeseen" in a sentence?

You can use "That was unforeseen" to describe an event or situation that was not anticipated or predicted. For example: "The extent of the economic downturn "that was unforeseen" created significant challenges for many businesses."

What is a good alternative to "That was unforeseen"?

Some good alternatives to "That was unforeseen" include "that was unexpected", "that was unanticipated", or "that came as a surprise", depending on the specific context.

Is "That was unforeseen" formal or informal?

"That was unforeseen" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "that was unexpected". It is suitable for professional or academic writing.

What is the difference between "That was unforeseen" and "That was unexpected"?

While both phrases indicate something not anticipated, "That was unforeseen" suggests a greater degree of unpredictability or that the event was genuinely impossible to anticipate. "That was unexpected" is a more general term for something surprising.