Unforeseen repercussions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Unforeseen repercussions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing unexpected consequences or outcomes that arise from a particular action or decision. Example: "The new policy was implemented without considering the unforeseen repercussions it might have on employee morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

And his first kiss has unforeseen repercussions.

The New York Times - Books

Barring unforeseen repercussions from his concussion, Drogba will be back.

The New York Times - Sports

Acts of torture at Guantánamo have entered the American bloodstream and had unforeseen repercussions for years after.

The Guardian

To understand how banning credit checks can lead to unforeseen repercussions, consider the problem from the employer's perspective.

The Washington Post

An unmitigated disaster (not least because, dramatically, it's been unbearably tedious), the baby swap storyline has had a number of unforeseen repercussions.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

We're not alone on the internet, and posting even the most innocent of images can have unforeseen repercussions in our lives.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"There are unforeseen and detrimental repercussions such as the bubbles that are being formed because of low interest rates". Goldman Sachs is embracing Silicon Valley in an effort to cut costs and uncover new markets.

Forbes

"But as unprecedented numbers of people channel their political energy through this medium, it's being used in unforeseen ways with societal repercussions that were never anticipated".

The New Yorker

"As unprecedented numbers of people channel their political energy through this medium, it's being used in unforeseen ways with societal repercussions that were never anticipated," he wrote.

Vice

Some of its repercussions will be unforeseen, and might even backfire.

Huffington Post

By combining both models we show that a wind turbine placed at such a location may receive less dense incoming air with repercussions on power output, as well as other unforeseen effects due to airflow negative vertical incidence such as the appearance of harmonic cyclic torque both in the turbine main shaft and nacelle yaw-control system.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "unforeseen repercussions" when analyzing historical events or decisions to highlight the long-term and often unanticipated consequences of actions taken in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "unforeseen repercussions" in every situation where consequences arise. Sometimes, consequences are entirely foreseeable, and using the phrase in such cases weakens its impact. Reserve it for truly unexpected outcomes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unforeseen repercussions" functions as a noun phrase, where 'unforeseen' modifies 'repercussions'. It is often used as the subject or object of a verb to describe unexpected or unintended consequences, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unforeseen repercussions" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to describe unexpected consequences across diverse contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. Predominantly found in news, academic, and scientific domains, it conveys a sense of unpredictability and is suitable for formal discussions. When using this phrase, consider the potential for overuse and ensure that the consequences are genuinely unexpected to maximize its impact. Alternatives such as "unexpected consequences" or "unintended outcomes" can offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unforeseen consequences

A direct synonym, maintaining the same meaning and level of formality. This is simply a single word change and preserves the original meaning.

Unexpected consequences

Replaces "unforeseen" with "unexpected", maintaining a similar level of formality but with slightly less emphasis on the inability to predict the outcome.

Unanticipated consequences

Similar to "unexpected consequences", but emphasizes that the consequences were not anticipated or prepared for.

Unintended outcomes

Shifts the focus to the results being different from what was planned or desired.

Unintended consequences

Synonymous with "unintended outcomes", this option again stresses the divergence between intentions and results.

Unpredicted outcomes

Emphasizes the failure to predict the results.

Unpredicted effects

Changes "outcomes" for the word "effects", which is a very slight semantic change.

Surprising consequences

Highlights the element of surprise or astonishment associated with the results.

Uncalculated effects

Focuses on the lack of calculation or planning for the effects, implying negligence or oversight.

Unexpected fallout

Uses a more informal term, "fallout", to describe the consequences, suggesting a negative impact.

FAQs

How can I use "unforeseen repercussions" in a sentence?

You can use "unforeseen repercussions" to describe unexpected outcomes or consequences, as in "The new policy had "unforeseen repercussions" on employee morale".

What are some alternatives to "unforeseen repercussions"?

Alternatives include "unexpected consequences", "unintended outcomes", or "unanticipated consequences" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "unforeseen consequences" or "unforeseen repercussions"?

Both "unforeseen consequences" and "unforeseen repercussions" are grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey, with "repercussions" often implying a stronger or more significant impact.

What's the difference between "unforeseen repercussions" and "negative consequences"?

"Unforeseen repercussions" emphasizes the unexpected nature of the consequences, while "negative consequences" simply highlights that the outcomes are undesirable. "Unforeseen repercussions" doesn't necessarily imply negativity; the repercussions could be positive or neutral, just unexpected.