a sudden case

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sudden case" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an unexpected or abrupt occurrence of a situation, often in medical or legal contexts. Example: "The hospital reported a sudden case of flu that spread rapidly among the patients."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

I asked what had happened, and he said, "I got a sudden case of shaky hands".

The New Yorker

That Perry, of all people, was suffering a sudden case of "blood bubbles"?

The New Yorker

When the father, played by Paul Ritter, wrenches his back and develops a sudden case of Tourette's, you can see the shadow of John Cleese's Basil Fawlty.

The New York Times - Arts

You don't need a couch and a degree nailed to the wall to figure out that Mikey is suffering from a sudden case of regression.

The New York Times

ROCHESTER — Representative Kathy Hochul, New York's most endangered Democrat in Congress, sat in silence in a plumbers' union hall on Friday morning, her voice crippled by a sudden case of bronchitis.

The New York Times

This week he pledged to give to charity the $69,000 in campaign money he received from Mr Abramoff and the Indian tribes.Will this scandal cause Washington to develop a sudden case of ethics?

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

#HarryPotter #CursedChild When you find yourself wishing that 19000 people would get struck down with a sudden, incapacitating case of spattergroit... #CursedChild Eye of rabbit, harp string hum, turn this 15698, into none.

Independent

That leaves Paulie, whose sudden case of premarriage jitters feels cooked up for dramatic effect.

The New York Times

In 1996, he tried a sudden-acceleration case against Ford.

The New York Times - Magazine

The upper measuring limit is regularly exceeded when the HPP is not adjusted fast enough to a sudden flood event; in this case, the reservoir storage level exceeds the operational range (10 15 m) and, consequently, overflows the grout curtain.

Applied Water Science

Yet the unprecedented Brazil outbreak which began in 2014 has corresponded with a sudden spike in cases of microcephaly – 3,893 cases as of last week, more than 30 times greater than any other period since 2010.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing medical scenarios, use "a sudden case" to indicate an unexpected onset of a condition or illness.

Common error

Avoid using "a sudden case" too frequently in formal writing. Opt for more precise and descriptive language to convey the unexpected nature of the event. Alternatives like "an unforeseen circumstance" or "a rapid occurrence" may be more suitable depending on the specific context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sudden case" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes an unexpected or abrupt occurrence of a situation, frequently in medical or legal contexts. As Ludwig AI shows, it's used to indicate the onset of something unexpected.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a sudden case" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase to describe an unexpected or abrupt occurrence, especially in medical or legal scenarios. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts. While its frequency is classified as common, it is crucial to consider the context and audience, as more specific language might be more appropriate in formal settings. Alternatives like "an unexpected instance" or "a rapid occurrence" can provide subtle variations in meaning, as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unexpected instance

Replaces "sudden" with "unexpected" and "case" with "instance", emphasizing the unforeseen nature of the event.

a rapid occurrence

Substitutes "sudden" with "rapid", focusing on the quick onset of the event.

an abrupt incident

Uses "abrupt" instead of "sudden", highlighting the sudden and unexpected nature of the event; "incident" replaces "case".

an immediate situation

Replaces "sudden" with "immediate", stressing the urgency of the situation; "situation" replaces "case".

a swift development

Substitutes "sudden" with "swift", emphasizing the speed of the development; "development" replaces "case".

a surprising event

Uses "surprising" instead of "sudden", highlighting the unexpected nature of the event; "event" replaces "case".

an unforeseen circumstance

Replaces "sudden" with "unforeseen", focusing on the unpredictable nature; "circumstance" replaces "case".

a precipitous instance

Substitutes "sudden" with "precipitous", emphasizing the abrupt and steep nature of the event; "instance" replaces "case".

a quick turn of events

Replaces "sudden case" with a more descriptive phrase, emphasizing the rapid change.

a spontaneous situation

Uses "spontaneous" instead of "sudden", suggesting an unprompted or unplanned situation; "situation" replaces "case".

FAQs

How can I use "a sudden case" in a sentence?

You can use "a sudden case" to describe the unexpected onset of something, such as "The hospital reported "a sudden case" of the flu" or "He developed "a sudden case" of nerves before the performance".

What can I say instead of "a sudden case"?

You can use alternatives like "an unexpected instance", "a rapid occurrence", or "an abrupt incident" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "a sudden case"?

While grammatically correct, "a sudden case" might sound informal in certain contexts. In formal writing, consider using more precise or descriptive phrases like "an unforeseen circumstance" or "an immediate situation".

What's the difference between "a sudden case" and "a surprising event"?

"A sudden case" often implies an unexpected occurrence that presents a problem or condition, while "a surprising event" refers more generally to something unexpected and noteworthy.