an unpredictable situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an unpredictable situation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a scenario where the outcome or events cannot be anticipated or foreseen. Example: "The weather forecast was unreliable, leading to an unpredictable situation for the outdoor event organizers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Entering an unpredictable situation, they are trained to act to protect their own safety and the public's.

The New York Times

I'm not going to say never, because this has been such an unpredictable situation, to say the least".

The New Yorker

In the event an unpredictable situation occurs, the University reserves the right to require employees to be designated on an ad hoc basis as essential services staff.

Princeton University

But now we have to protect their homes, and with the volume of fires and their complexity, it makes for such an unpredictable situation".

The New York Times

But the refusal to comply with the requests, which came from the commander of the peacekeepers in Kosovo, Gen. Klaus Reinhardt of Germany, reflected the lack of enthusiasm for putting NATO troops into such an unpredictable situation.

The New York Times

"It is a specious argument and it places us in an unpredictable situation when it comes to our plans to keep the port competitive with other deep-water ports along the east coast".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"It is an absolutely unpredictable situation," he added.

The New York Times

Yet resentment, fueled by grinding poverty, creates a very unpredictable situation in Congo today.

The Washington Post

"We've got quite an unstable and unpredictable situation," said Thomas Adams, executive director of Energy Probe, a research group in Toronto.

The New York Times

The shock execution of Kim Jong-un's uncle Chang Song-thaek has left the region in a "grave and unpredictable" situation, according to South Korea's President Park Geun-hye.

BBC

President Park Geun-hye warned before meeting high-level defence officials on Monday that the execution had left the Korean Peninsula in a "grave and unpredictable" situation.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing scenarios in fields like politics or economics, "an unpredictable situation" is useful for conveying instability and potential risk. For example: "The trade negotiations created "an unpredictable situation" for investors."

Common error

While "an unpredictable situation" is acceptable, in highly formal or scientific writing, consider stronger, more precise terms like "unstable conditions" or "volatile circumstances" to enhance the professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an unpredictable situation" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "unpredictable" modifies the noun "situation". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It describes a scenario characterized by uncertainty and a lack of foreseeability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

30%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an unpredictable situation" is a common phrase used to describe scenarios where outcomes are uncertain and difficult to foresee. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct. It's frequently used in news, media, science and academic contexts to convey instability and potential risk. While the phrase is generally acceptable, in more formal writing, alternatives like "unstable conditions" or "volatile circumstances" might be more appropriate. As such be mindful when incorporating the phrase in professional or highly scientific content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an uncertain set of conditions

Replaces "unpredictable" with "uncertain" and "situation" with "set of conditions", focusing on the lack of predictability in the circumstances.

a changeable set of circumstances

Focuses on the mutability and variability using "changeable set of circumstances".

a volatile circumstance

Replaces "unpredictable" with "volatile" and "situation" with "circumstance", emphasizing the potential for sudden and dramatic changes.

an unforeseen set of events

This alternative highlights that events were not anticipated.

a fluid state of affairs

Uses "fluid state of affairs" instead of "unpredictable situation", highlighting the dynamic and changeable nature of the situation.

a chancy set of events

Emphasizes the risky and uncertain nature using "chancy set of events".

a dicey predicament

Replaces "unpredictable" with "dicey" and "situation" with "predicament", implying a risky and potentially problematic scenario.

a precarious juncture

Uses "precarious juncture" to suggest a critical point with inherent instability and risk.

a dynamic yet unstable environment

This alternative uses both "dynamic" and "unstable" to show that a situation is constantly changing and lacks stability.

a constantly evolving landscape

Highlights the ongoing changes and developments using the metaphor of an evolving landscape.

FAQs

How can I use "an unpredictable situation" in a sentence?

You can use "an unpredictable situation" to describe a scenario where the outcome is uncertain or difficult to foresee. For example: "The sudden policy change created "an unpredictable situation" for businesses." Or: "Navigating the global pandemic has become "an unpredictable situation" for many countries."

What are some alternatives to "an unpredictable situation"?

Some alternatives include "an uncertain situation", "a volatile circumstance", or "a fluid state of affairs", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "an unexpected situation" or "an unpredictable situation"?

While both describe unforeseen circumstances, "an unexpected situation" emphasizes the surprise element, whereas "an unpredictable situation" highlights the difficulty in foreseeing or controlling the outcome. Depending on the context you may use "an unexpected situation" or "an unpredictable situation".

What makes a situation "unpredictable"?

A situation becomes "unpredictable" when multiple factors are at play, when the influencing factors are constantly changing, or when there's a lack of historical data to base predictions on. For example: "An unpredictable situation" is often seen in emerging markets.