a complication has occurred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a complication has occurred" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in contexts where an unexpected issue or problem has arisen, particularly in medical, technical, or project management discussions. Example: "During the procedure, a complication has occurred that requires immediate attention from the surgical team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In a steady state, most patients have no obvious clinical symptoms but after a complication has occurred the hemoglobin level can occasionally drop significantly.

Disease Markers

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The patients were asked to report whether any complication had occurred after surgery and, if so, where it had been diagnosed and treated.

Acta Orthopaedica

At the moment no device-related complication has occurred with this extremely rapid cooling method [ 29].

Critical Care

A rare complication had occurred – a "uterine inversion" – triggering shock and a life-threatening haemorrhage.

The Guardian - Books

The American Society of Anesthesiologists cited a 2000 study financed by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which found that the presence of an anesthesiologist helped prevent deaths in cases where an anesthesia or surgical complication had occurred.

The New York Times

Given the anticipated length of stay (LOS) we cite for our patients being 14 days or less, LOS >14 days was used as a surrogate for a complicated postoperative course in this cohort even if no defined complication had occurred.

Cancer Medicine

Conversely, it is possible that the complication had occurred prior to the transfusion (and thus been a possible reason for the transfusion), in patients receiving RBCs only after CPB.

Critical Care

No major complication had occurred to any of the patients after three years.

BioMed Research International

Neither in the VPA nor in the NaCl group any relevant complication had occurred along with the invariable surgical procedures.

BioMed Research International

On the other hand, comparative studies that examined cases of minor surgeries performed with cessation of WF with or without additional heparin bridging reported severe haemorrhagic events in cases receiving heparin bridging, though no thromboembolic complication had occurred.

BMJ Open

Students had to examine and record every patient to see if any complications had occurred at the end of the procedure.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting medical or technical issues, use "a complication has occurred" to clearly and professionally communicate that an unexpected problem has arisen and requires attention.

Common error

Avoid using "a complication has occurred" in casual conversations. Opt for simpler phrases like "something went wrong" or "there's a problem" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a complication has occurred" functions as a declarative statement reporting the existence of an unexpected problem. Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's used to inform about a negative event that has taken place.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a complication has occurred" is a grammatically correct and professionally appropriate way to report that an unexpected problem has arisen. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, it is more suited for formal contexts such as medical reports, technical documentation, or news articles. Alternatives like "an issue has arisen" or "a problem has emerged" may be more appropriate for less formal situations. The phrase is most frequently found in scientific and news-related sources, indicating its use in professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an issue has arisen

Replaces "complication" with a more general term "issue" and uses "arisen" instead of "has occurred".

a problem has emerged

Similar to the first, substituting "complication" with "problem" and using "emerged" for "has occurred".

difficulties have arisen

Uses the plural "difficulties" to indicate a more significant issue, and "arisen" instead of "has occurred".

a setback has taken place

Emphasizes the negative impact with "setback" and replaces "has occurred" with "has taken place".

an obstacle has presented itself

Presents the complication as an obstacle that needs to be overcome.

a hitch has developed

Uses the word "hitch" to indicate a minor problem, suggesting the complication is not too serious.

something has gone wrong

A more general way of saying that there has been a complication

a snag has surfaced

Uses "snag" to describe an unexpected difficulty.

an unforeseen event has transpired

Replaces complication with a more neutral term "event" and uses "transpired" instead of "has occurred".

a challenge has materialized

Presents the complication as a "challenge" that needs to be addressed.

FAQs

How can I use "a complication has occurred" in a sentence?

This phrase is typically used to report an unexpected problem or issue that has arisen, often in medical, technical, or project management contexts. For example: "During the surgery, a complication has occurred requiring immediate attention."

What can I say instead of "a complication has occurred"?

You can use alternatives like "an issue has arisen", "a problem has emerged", or "difficulties have arisen" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a complication has occurred" in casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "a complication has occurred" is quite formal and may sound unnatural in everyday conversation. Simpler phrases like "something went wrong" are more suitable for informal settings.

What is the difference between "a complication has occurred" and "an issue has arisen"?

While both phrases indicate a problem, "a complication has occurred" often implies a more serious or unexpected difficulty, particularly in a medical or technical context. "An issue has arisen" is a more general and less alarming way to describe a problem.