acquired spontaneously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquired spontaneously" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been obtained or developed without deliberate effort or planning. Example: "The knowledge was acquired spontaneously during the course of our discussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Such skills are not acquired spontaneously and should constitute the goal of new pedagogical approaches at university.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

For Gros (2015), people need to develop important skills to direct their educational processes, but these skills develop at an earlier stage, they are not acquired spontaneously.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

This provided evidence that the insertion was acquired spontaneously.

Plosone

In contrast to screening for the loss of lacZα function, fluorescent protein-based screening is based on a gain of fluorescence that can increase screening fidelity as the fluorescence property cannot be acquired spontaneously.

Plosone

The various mutation types can either be transmitted from a parent to a child or acquired spontaneously.

Genome Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This distinction is fundamental to his famous claim that people's xing is bad, discussed below; this implies that the tendencies that people acquire spontaneously tend to lead to bad behavior, but does not imply that human nature as a whole as bad.

SEP

We conclude that both S4T and NT4T tumours became more metastatic than RMS 9-4/0 as the result of tumour progression through in vivo passages, and that in addition S4T acquired a spontaneously higher metastatic potential, similar to that which occurred in rats grafted with RMS 9-4/0 or NT4T tumours and treated by CZT.

British Journal of Cancer

One example would be learning object location, which rats acquire spontaneously (Dix & Aggleton, 1999; Save, Poucet, Foreman, & Buhbot, 1992).

Behavioral Neuroscience

Bacteria can acquire mutations spontaneously and at a relatively constant rate because of the inherent mutational frequency associated with genomic replication.

Biochemistry

That means, new behaviourists say, that habits of good citizenship can no longer be easily or spontaneously acquired.

The Economist

We have previously reported that multi-cellular heteroaggregates comprising murine pancreatic α (αTC1.6) and β (MIN6-m9) cell lines spontaneously acquired islet-like architecture and displayed higher insulin secretion rates.

Regenerative Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "acquired spontaneously" to emphasize that a skill, trait, or characteristic developed without conscious effort or direct instruction. This is particularly useful in scientific or academic contexts when describing emergent properties or behaviors.

Common error

Avoid using "acquired spontaneously" when the acquisition involved some degree of active participation or environmental influence. The phrase implies a more passive and unintentional process than simply learning through exposure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquired spontaneously" functions as an adverbial modifier, describing how something was acquired. It indicates that the acquisition happened without conscious effort or planning. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, this phrase is most commonly used in scientific and academic writing to describe the emergence of traits or skills.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

70%

Academia

15%

News & Media

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acquired spontaneously" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe the unintentional and effortless development of traits, skills, or characteristics. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most prevalent in scientific and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the context truly reflects a passive and unplanned acquisition, distinguishing it from intentional learning or passive exposure. For alternatives, consider "gained naturally" or "obtained effortlessly" to convey similar meanings. While the phrase is valid, its usage frequency is rare.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gained naturally

Emphasizes the natural process of acquisition without external influence.

obtained effortlessly

Highlights the ease with which something was acquired.

developed automatically

Focuses on the automatic nature of the development process.

learned incidentally

Suggests that the acquisition was a side effect of another activity.

picked up passively

Implies a lack of active effort in the acquisition.

came about unintentionally

Highlights the lack of intent behind the acquisition.

arose without planning

Focuses on the absence of a deliberate plan.

emerged inadvertently

Suggests that the acquisition was an unintended consequence.

manifested innately

Emphasizes the innate or inherent nature of the acquisition.

unconsciously assimilated

Highlights the lack of awareness during the acquisition process.

FAQs

How can I use "acquired spontaneously" in a sentence?

You can use "acquired spontaneously" to describe skills or characteristics that developed without conscious effort. For example, "The children "acquired spontaneously" a sense of rhythm by listening to music daily."

What are some alternatives to "acquired spontaneously"?

Some alternatives include "gained naturally", "obtained effortlessly", or "developed automatically", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something was "spontaneously acquired"?

Yes, "spontaneously acquired" is grammatically correct and emphasizes that something was obtained or developed without deliberate effort.

What's the difference between "acquired spontaneously" and "learned incidentally"?

"Acquired spontaneously" suggests a more passive and unintentional process, while "learned incidentally" implies that the acquisition occurred as a byproduct of another activity. The distinction lies in the level of direct exposure and attention to the new information.