accustomed to expecting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accustomed to expecting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a habitual or familiar state of anticipating something. Example: "After years of working in the industry, she became accustomed to expecting last-minute changes to the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Consumers grew accustomed to expecting that the longer they waited, the cheaper goods would become.

The New York Times

"But," interjects Nazim, "the tourists, they never came!" He laughs, partly at the absurdity, partly because he is accustomed to expecting no different.

The Guardian - Travel

Many of us are accustomed to expecting nothing -- not electricity, not water, not health care, not education, not basic safety -- from the state.

Huffington Post

Here's how.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

What is unusual about "Two September" is how very odd it isn't, at least in the ways that fans of Mr. Wellman are accustomed to expect.

The New York Times

It is this collision between what lawyers are used to providing and what the modern users of professional services are increasingly accustomed to expect which is at the root of the 100,000 contacts from disgruntled customers we receive every year and no fewer than one quarter of these, by far the largest element of our workload, are about cost.

The Guardian

After trailers for witless Buppie sex comedies and the new, rapper-heavy Steven Seagal atrocity, it was an unexpected pleasure to find that Barbershop radiated warmth and geniality, along with wisdom and a lot more laughs than moviegoers are accustomed to expect in this Age of Gross-Out.

The Guardian - Film

They have pushed the boundaries of the genre and challenged the way we have become accustomed to expect certain things in fantasy.

Huffington Post

Henson admitted last week that he had lost sight of the need to work at his game; that he had become accustomed to simply expecting good things to happen.

Independent

It most likely is a mutual-admiration society, but on this end at least, the Red Bulls know their team has grown accustomed to and expecting of Cahill.

The New York Times - Sports

Nitschke, accustomed to controversy, expected some push-back.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "accustomed to expecting" when you want to emphasize a learned or developed expectation, often as a result of repeated experiences or consistent patterns.

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences with "accustomed to expecting" in a way that obscures who is doing the expecting. Make sure the subject of the sentence is clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accustomed to expecting" functions as part of a predicate, describing a state or condition of being used to anticipate something. Ludwig examples show this describing consumer behavior, personal expectations, or general tendencies.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accustomed to expecting" is grammatically correct but relatively rare. It describes a state of being used to anticipating something, often based on repeated experiences. As indicated by Ludwig, it is mainly found in news and media contexts. While grammatically sound, consider alternatives like "used to expecting" or "come to expect" for simpler or more common phrasing. The best practice involves using it to emphasize a learned expectation and avoiding passive voice constructions that obscure the subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come to expect

This alternative is a simpler and more common way of expressing that someone has developed an expectation over time.

used to anticipating

This alternative is more concise and direct, replacing "accustomed to" with the simpler "used to".

familiar with expecting

This alternative replaces "accustomed to" with "familiar with", emphasizing knowledge or awareness rather than habit.

in the habit of expecting

This alternative highlights the habitual nature of the expectation.

conditioned to expect

This alternative suggests that the expectation is a result of repeated experience.

prone to expecting

This alternative implies a tendency or inclination to expect something, rather than a state of being accustomed.

likely to anticipate

This alternative shifts from a state of being accustomed to a probability of anticipation.

inclined to expect

Similar to "prone to expecting", this suggests a leaning or preference towards expecting something.

anticipating as a matter of course

This alternative emphasizes that the expectation is automatic or routine.

taking it for granted to expect

This alternative suggests the expectation is assumed or unquestioned.

FAQs

How can I use "accustomed to expecting" in a sentence?

You can use "accustomed to expecting" to describe someone who has grown used to anticipating a particular outcome or situation. For instance: "After many years in customer service, she was accustomed to expecting difficult clients".

What's a simpler way to say "accustomed to expecting"?

A simpler way to express the same idea is to use phrases like "used to expecting" or "come to expect" depending on the context.

Is "accustomed to expecting" formal or informal?

"Accustomed to expecting" is relatively neutral in tone, but "used to expecting" tends to be more informal. The choice depends on the desired level of formality in your writing.

What's the difference between "accustomed to expecting" and "in the habit of expecting"?

"Accustomed to expecting" implies a state of being used to something, while "in the habit of expecting" emphasizes the repetitive nature of the expectation. The latter suggests a more ingrained behavior.