as a spate of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a spate of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden or large number of occurrences of something, often in a negative context. Example: "As a spate of complaints flooded in, the company realized it needed to address the issue immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

But as a spate of lawsuits and consumer advocacy efforts show, one person's "natural" is another person's methylisothiazolinone.

The New York Times

Still, Flip's luster began to fade, as a spate of smartphones with built-in cameras and editing applications hit the market.

The New York Times - Tech

But the organization fell from the limelight as a spate of defections left it unable to process and publish fresh leaks.

The New York Times

One Green reader wrote in to describe what she saw as  a spate of red tide events around the world and inquired about the cause.

The New York Times

Over a two-week period this month there were at least 15 armed robberies of foreigners, as well as a spate of kidnappings of local businessmen.

The Economist

Bad government, armed conflict or just very bad luck (such as a spate of natural disasters) can set a country's progress back by decades.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

That included former director and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who many sources said had been one of the first to urge that the company replace Ballmer as CEO, as well as from a spate of Wall Street investors complaining about the company's declining value in the Ballmer years.

TechCrunch

The 2008 crash made a once-expensive country seem affordable, and the 2010 volcanic eruption reminded the world of its wild beauty, as did a spate of films and TV series shot there, such as Game of Thrones.

The Guardian - Travel

Almost as quickly, a spate of potential buyers has emerged for select pieces of what was until recently one of the world's largest futures and commodities brokers.

The Economist

Surgery at one unit - Oxford's John Radcliffe - was stopped as recently as 2010 after a spate of deaths.

BBC

But in Xinjiang, residents widely assert that the government squeeze on information stoked further tensions and unrest, such as during a spate of syringe stabbings in Urumqi in August.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a spate of" to introduce a series of events, often negative, that have occurred in a relatively short period. For instance, "As a spate of robberies hit the neighborhood, residents organized a community watch."

Common error

Avoid using "as a spate of" when describing positive events. The phrase generally implies something undesirable or problematic, so opt for a more neutral or positive alternative when describing positive occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a spate of" functions as a prepositional phrase, introducing a noun phrase that specifies the type of events or items occurring in a sudden or abundant manner. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is used to describe a sudden or large number of occurrences of something, often in a negative context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Science

6%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a spate of" is a prepositional phrase used to describe a sudden and often unwelcome series of events. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, typically describing a negative context. With a high frequency across reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, it is primarily used in news and media contexts. While it can be used in both formal and informal communication, avoid using it for positive events. Alternatives include phrases like "following a series of" or "after a wave of", but consider nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following a series of

Indicates a sequence of events, similar to a "spate", but places more emphasis on the sequential nature.

after a wave of

Emphasizes the intensity and overwhelming nature of the events, using "wave" as a metaphor for a large number.

subsequent to a cluster of

Highlights the grouping of events occurring after an initial event.

in the wake of a flurry of

Suggests the events happened soon after and rapidly.

resulting from a surge of

Emphasizes the increasing nature of the events and suggests the events happened as a result of a surge.

due to an outbreak of

Indicates a sudden and widespread occurrence, often used for negative events like diseases or violence.

prompted by a rash of

Implies a sudden and often unwelcome appearance of events.

on account of a succession of

Highlights the continuous sequence of events.

caused by a burst of

Suggests a sudden and forceful release or occurrence.

stemming from a string of

Implies a connected series of events originating from a single cause.

FAQs

How can I use "as a spate of" in a sentence?

Use "as a spate of" to indicate a sudden, often unwelcome, series of events. For example, "As a spate of cancellations occurred, the organizers were forced to refund tickets".

What phrases are similar to "as a spate of"?

Alternatives include "following a series of", "after a wave of", or "resulting from a surge of", depending on the specific context.

Is "as a spate of" formal or informal?

"As a spate of" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in news and media or professional writing.

What's the nuance of "as a spate of" compared to "a series of"?

"As a spate of" suggests a sudden and often negative occurrence, while "a series of" is more neutral and simply indicates a sequence of events without necessarily implying a problem. Choose based on whether you want to convey a sense of urgency or concern.