a fortunate break

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fortunate break" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a lucky or advantageous opportunity that has come your way. Example: "After months of searching for a job, I finally got a fortunate break when a friend referred me to a great company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

A fortunate break, the sort Mr Costanza rarely enjoys.

The Guardian - Sport

It is a fortunate break for both firm and employee but hardly a tribute to Britain's immigration system.

The Economist

BUFFALO — The Rangers' scoring troubles have become so pronounced that even when they catch a fortunate break, they struggle to produce goals.

The New York Times - Sports

For all that Leicester threw men forward in the final few minutes, the impression remained that they would need a fortunate break to equalise: it never came.

The Guardian - Sport

This year's draft is perceived to be flush with quality defensive linemen, a fortunate break for the Giants, after their lack of depth on the line was exposed during the playoff disaster in San Francisco.

The New York Times - Sports

Chappell drove his ball into the left rough — where he received a fortunate break when it was picked up by a fan, giving him a free drop — but could only make par after laying up from out the trees, hitting a wedge to 20 feet and missing the putt.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

In fact, a second fortunate break after the deflection that brought Scotland's winner earlier in the match, a stroke of luck that was so great that Shaun Maloney was too embarrassed to make too much of his celebrations after Giorgi Loria and Akaki Khubutia did a one-two and turned the ball into their own net.

BBC

Before Sunday's 4-2 loss that evened the series, 2-2, the Cardinals had led the Boston Red Sox largely because of strong starting pitching and a few fortunate breaks in the field.

The New York Times

That's two fortunate breaks at a time of need for New Jersey's club.

The New York Times

The roommate who had alerted Ms. Yan, a 60-year-old man, was less fortunate, breaking the pipe on the way down and injuring himself in the fall, Mr. Li said.

The New York Times

While De Puniet walked away and is expected to be fine for Sunday's race, Edwards was not so fortunate, breaking his collarbone for the second time in a year.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using stronger verbs to describe the result of "a fortunate break". Instead of 'receiving a fortunate break', try 'capitalizing on a fortunate break' or 'leveraging a fortunate break' for more dynamic prose.

Common error

Avoid attributing "a fortunate break" to skill or planning when it clearly resulted from chance. Acknowledge the role of luck to maintain credibility and avoid misrepresenting the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fortunate break" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes an instance of unexpected good luck or a beneficial opportunity. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it often highlights a positive turn of events.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fortunate break" is a noun phrase used to describe an instance of unexpected good luck or a beneficial opportunity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. This phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts and carries a neutral to professional tone. Related phrases include "a lucky opportunity" and "a stroke of luck". When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the specific benefit or opportunity gained. Avoid attributing the break to skill when it's due to chance. While not overly common, the phrase is well-understood and effectively conveys the idea of unexpected good fortune.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a lucky opportunity

Replaces 'fortunate' with 'lucky', emphasizing chance.

a serendipitous event

Substitutes the phrase with one highlighting the accidental and beneficial nature of the occurrence.

a stroke of luck

Emphasizes the sudden and unexpected nature of the good fortune.

an unexpected advantage

Highlights the element of surprise and benefit.

a timely advantage

Focuses on the opportune moment when the benefit occurs.

a providential turn

Implies that the fortunate event was guided by a higher power.

a chance occurrence

Focuses on the accidental happening.

a welcome development

Shifts the focus to the positive outcome.

a happy coincidence

Highlights the simultaneous occurrence of events in a beneficial way.

a beneficial twist

Focuses on unexpected positive change.

FAQs

How can I use "a fortunate break" in a sentence?

"A fortunate break" can be used to describe a lucky or advantageous opportunity that has come your way. For example: "After months of searching for a job, I finally got a fortunate break when a friend referred me to a great company."

What are some alternatives to "a fortunate break"?

You can use alternatives like "a lucky opportunity", "a stroke of luck", or "a timely advantage" depending on the context.

Is "fortunate break" formal or informal?

The phrase "fortunate break" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, particularly in news reporting, general conversation, and business settings.

What is the difference between "a fortunate break" and "a lucky coincidence"?

"A fortunate break" generally refers to a specific advantageous opportunity or event, while "a lucky coincidence" implies that two or more events occurred simultaneously to create a beneficial outcome. The former emphasizes the opportunity itself, whereas the latter emphasizes the simultaneous occurrence of events.