an ongoing incident

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an ongoing incident" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that is currently happening and has not yet concluded. Example: "The police are responding to an ongoing incident at the downtown plaza, and they have advised the public to avoid the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

A statement on Twitter from the airport said: "Flights suspended for around two hours as a result of an ongoing incident.

Independent

A spokesman for Detective Superintendent Dena Fleming, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: "We had a call at 7.24pm on Tuesday evening reporting that there was an ongoing incident at the prison.

The Guardian

Train alarms had sounded on board and passengers in other carriages had heard staff communicating with each other by loudspeaker about an ongoing incident just before the train pulled in.

The Guardian

A statement on the hotel's website read: "Due to an ongoing incident please be aware that Cameron House will remain closed to arriving guests for at least the next 72 hours.

BBC

Hundreds of workers in the main Devonshire Dock Hall (DDH) had to leave the building this morning over what site owner BAE Systems would only describe as an "ongoing incident".

BBC

But when contacted again, it told Reality Check there had been 700 incidents of "harassment fire". It defined this as "anything that does not directly target Turkey, but is felt as a side-effect of an ongoing incident or clashes in Syria".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Prime Minister David Cameron's office said "several British nationals" are involved in the "ongoing incident," without giving an exact number.

Huffington Post

In Britain, the cabinet held a meeting of its Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the government's response to the crisis, while the foreign office issued a statement saying: "There is in an ongoing terrorist incident near the town of Ain Amenas at an oil installation near the Algerian border with Libya.

The Guardian

10 25: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) advise people to stay away from Parliament Hill due to an "ongoing police incident".

BBC

A bomb disposal team has arrived at at Gas Ferry Road in Bristol as part of an ongoing "chemical incident" Nearby residents have been asked to leave their homes and go to a rest centre at nearby Spike Island.

BBC

The company also been updating a Google Doc with info on the ongoing incident.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an ongoing incident" when you want to emphasize that a situation is still in progress and its outcome is not yet known. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "an ongoing incident" as a placeholder when specific details are available. Providing concrete information enhances clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an ongoing incident" functions as a noun phrase, where "ongoing" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "incident". Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, serving to identify a current and unresolved event.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an ongoing incident" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a situation that is currently in progress. Ludwig AI confirms it is usable in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communications. While versatile, it's important to avoid vagueness by providing specific details when possible. Related phrases include "developing situation" and "current crisis".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Live incident

Emphasizes that the event is currently happening and being updated in real-time.

Developing situation

Highlights the evolving nature of the circumstances.

Active situation

Highlights the present activity and lack of resolution.

Current situation

Focuses on the present state of affairs, omitting the implication of an event.

Unfolding event

Suggests a gradual revelation or progression of the situation.

Current event

A more generic substitute, applicable to various contexts.

Present crisis

Emphasizes the urgency and critical nature of the event.

Continuing problem

Highlights the persistent nature of the issue, shifting focus from a single event.

Existing circumstance

Focuses on the state of affairs rather than an active event.

Unresolved matter

Focuses on the lack of a conclusion to the issue.

FAQs

How can I use "an ongoing incident" in a sentence?

You can use "an ongoing incident" to describe events that are still developing, such as "Due to "an ongoing incident", flights have been delayed".

What are some alternatives to "an ongoing incident"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "an ongoing incident" include "developing situation", "current crisis", or "active investigation".

Is it correct to say "a ongoing incident" instead of "an ongoing incident"?

No, the correct article to use is "an" because "ongoing" begins with a vowel sound. Therefore, the correct phrase is "an ongoing incident".

What's the difference between "an ongoing incident" and "a past event"?

"An ongoing incident" refers to a situation that is currently happening, while "a past event" describes something that has already occurred and is completed.