anomalous incident

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anomalous incident" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or occurrence that deviates from the norm or expected behavior, often in a scientific or investigative context. Example: "The researchers were puzzled by the anomalous incident that occurred during the experiment, as the results were not consistent with their predictions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It might have seemed like a bizarre, anomalous incident, the act of someone with a perverse rhino fetish.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Port Authority insists that such incidents are anomalous, but if so, surely personal restraint is as much of a factor as any security system.

The New York Times - Magazine

In general, a normal incident mode results in an anomalous 4π periodic Josephson effect [29, 30].

Nanoscale Research Letters

At present it's unclear how common it is for a child to injure an adult with a gun, but the fact that 1.7 million children live in homes with unsecured firearms (nearly 40percentt of gun-owning homes with children) suggests that these incidents can't be entirely anomalous by sheer probability.

Vice

Both simulations and experiments show that the AMS can realize anomalous reflection, i.e., a normal incident wave can be reflected into an oblique direction.

Solid State Communications

A physical scenario is proposed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms: as the infrared femtosecond laser pulse pre-irradiates the target, the copper surface is triggered to display anomalous transient physical properties, on which the subsequently incident Gaussian blue laser pulse is spatially modulated into fringe-like energy depositions via the excitation of ultrafast surface plasmon.

Surface Science

We propose that the anomalous signature of the geomagnetic field at this station is due to the high reflection coefficient of the incident electromagnetic wave at the interface with the very good conductor and by skin effects damping the electromagnetic wave in the conducting layers overlying the conductor.

Earth, Planets and Space

But they are anomalous.

The New York Times

Nothing, anomalous nothing.

The Guardian

"Bear Meat" is somewhat anomalous.

The New Yorker

They are also anomalous.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anomalous incident" when you want to emphasize that an event deviates significantly from the norm or expected pattern. This phrase is particularly fitting in scientific, investigative, or analytical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "anomalous incident" in everyday conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or pretentious in situations where simpler terms like "unusual event" or "strange occurrence" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anomalous incident" functions as a noun phrase, where "anomalous" modifies the noun "incident". It describes a specific occurrence that deviates from the norm, as illustrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "anomalous incident" is used to describe an event that significantly deviates from the norm and is considered grammatically correct. According to Ludwig, its usage is rare but acceptable, often appearing in news and media and scientific contexts. While "anomalous incident" may sound too formal for informal settings, as it suggests, be sure to use alternative phrases such as "unusual occurrence" or "atypical event" to achieve a more common expression. It's fitting in scientific and investigative contexts. Despite its slightly technical tone, "anomalous incident" serves to call attention to abnormal cases that merit closer inspection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unusual occurrence

Replaces "incident" with a more general term and "anomalous" with a more common synonym, making it slightly less formal.

atypical event

"Atypical" substitutes "anomalous", implying a deviation from the norm, and "event" is a synonym for "incident".

irregular episode

"Irregular" replaces "anomalous", suggesting something not conforming to rules, and "episode" replaces "incident", implying a specific occurrence within a larger context.

deviant happening

"Deviant" emphasizes the departure from expected behavior, replacing "anomalous", and "happening" is a general term for an event.

aberrant situation

"Aberrant" replaces "anomalous", highlighting a deviation from the standard or expected, and "situation" broadens the context beyond a single event.

peculiar circumstance

"Peculiar" replaces "anomalous", indicating something strange or unusual, and "circumstance" suggests a specific condition or event.

strange occurrence

"Strange" is a more common synonym for "anomalous", conveying a sense of oddity or unfamiliarity; "occurrence" replaces "incident" as a general term.

outlier event

Uses the statistical term "outlier" to describe the "anomalous" aspect, referring to a data point that differs significantly from other observations; "event" is synonymous with "incident".

exceptional case

Replaces "anomalous" with "exceptional", highlighting the rarity of the "incident", framed as a "case".

uncharacteristic instance

Uses "uncharacteristic" instead of "anomalous", focusing on the deviation from typical characteristics; "instance" is similar to "incident".

FAQs

How can I use "anomalous incident" in a sentence?

You can use "anomalous incident" to describe an event that deviates from what is expected or normal. For example: "The researchers were puzzled by the "anomalous incident" during the experiment".

What are some alternatives to "anomalous incident"?

Some alternatives to "anomalous incident" include "unusual occurrence", "atypical event", or "irregular episode", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "anomalous incident" formal or informal?

"Anomalous incident" leans towards the formal side. In informal contexts, consider using simpler alternatives like "strange occurrence" or "unusual event".

What is the difference between "anomalous incident" and "unusual incident"?

While both phrases describe something out of the ordinary, "anomalous incident" suggests a greater degree of deviation from the norm and is often used in more technical or analytical contexts. "Unusual incident" is a more general and less formal term.