an unexpected occurrence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an unexpected occurrence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or situation that was not anticipated or foreseen. Example: "The sudden storm was an unexpected occurrence that disrupted our outdoor plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Reconnecting the man to the ventilator "was not an unexpected occurrence for any patient" in the man's condition because patients with heart failure may need ventilator support for short intervals in recovery from major surgery, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The New York Times

Sometimes an unexpected occurrence, like a stranger stepping in, aborts the meltdown, but it's equally possible that it could have escalated things.

HuffPost

The initial casting call required an actress with a "spooky" quality, but following the failure to find someone adequate, co-supervising producer René Echevarria suggested that the character instead should someone who was unprepared to be joined with Dax and only did so because of an unexpected occurrence.

Wikipedia

This feature in the Kaplan-Meier curves has been difficult to explain and was indeed an unexpected occurrence.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

These results highlight the possibility of co-infection with other tickborne pathogens, an unexpected occurrence if I. scapularis ticks are the primary vector of the EML pathogen.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

For instance, people usually alter exceptional as opposed to routine events that happened before an unexpected occurrence (Kahneman and Tversky, 1982; Gavanski and Wells, 1989), and preferentially focus on action-based rather than inaction-based antecedents (Kahneman and Tversky, 1982).

Hippocampus

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Ask your insurance agent how you can best protect your assets against any unexpected occurrences.

WikiHow

This is not a "black swan" event — a sudden, unexpected occurrence — but a white swan one, said Michael A. Levi, senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The New York Times

A rather unexpected occurrence of V. erioloba on sand dunes of Namibrand is related to soil water availability in the rhizosphere.

Forest Ecosystems

An emergency a "sudden", "unexpected" occurrence that requires action for a situation at schools within the district 53 scope can result in school or bus transportation facilities.

Wikipedia

However, at the same time, we're going to make sure the investigation is done right". Yorba Linda officials said the Alam beating was an isolated, but not unexpected, occurrence in the predominantly white city of 59,000 people with a median family income of $96,000, compared with about $59,000 for the county overall.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "an unexpected occurrence" with a description of its consequences to emphasize its impact, clarifying how it altered the situation.

Common error

While acceptable, repeatedly using "an unexpected occurrence" in formal writing can make your prose sound repetitive. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like "unforeseen circumstance" or "unanticipated event" for better impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an unexpected occurrence" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, referring to an event or situation that was not anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an unexpected occurrence" is a grammatically correct and usable noun phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI, employed to describe unforeseen events across various contexts. It appears most frequently in scientific and news media sources. While generally neutral in tone, careful consideration should be given to the specific audience and purpose, as more formal synonyms may sometimes be more appropriate. When employing the phrase, clearly establish the prior expectations to emphasize the unforeseen nature of the event. Vary your vocabulary to avoid sounding repetitive. To summarize, you can use this phrase to describe an event or situation that was not anticipated or foreseen, as Ludwig AI states.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unanticipated event

Highlights the lack of anticipation or expectation, underlining that the event was not predicted.

an unforeseen circumstance

Focuses on the lack of foresight or anticipation surrounding the event, stressing its unplanned character.

a surprise event

Emphasizes the element of surprise associated with the occurrence, highlighting its unforeseen nature.

an unplanned incident

Highlights the lack of planning or preparation, emphasizing that the event was not part of any intended course of action.

a chance happening

Suggests that the event occurred randomly or by chance, without any deliberate intention or planning.

a random incident

Implies that the event was arbitrary and without a clear cause or pattern, emphasizing its unpredictable nature.

a twist of fate

Suggests that the event was determined by destiny or chance, often implying a significant or life-altering outcome.

a deviation from the norm

Highlights the fact that this occurrence does not adhere to the expected standard, pattern or behaviour.

an anomaly

This alternative suggests a deviation from what is standard, normal, or expected.

a glitch

This alternative suggests a sudden malfunction, disruption, or mistake.

FAQs

How can I use "an unexpected occurrence" in a sentence?

You can use "an unexpected occurrence" to describe something that happened without prior planning or anticipation. For example, "The power outage was an unexpected occurrence that disrupted the meeting."

What can I say instead of "an unexpected occurrence"?

You can use alternatives like "a surprise event", "an unforeseen circumstance", or "an unanticipated event" depending on the context.

Is "unexpected occurrence" formal or informal?

The phrase "unexpected occurrence" is generally considered neutral to formal. While widely understood, consider the context and audience; more formal alternatives like "unforeseen event" may be preferable in academic or professional settings.

What's the difference between "an unexpected occurrence" and "a coincidence"?

"An unexpected occurrence" simply means something unplanned happened. "A coincidence", on the other hand, implies a surprising concurrence of events or circumstances that have no apparent causal connection.