as was foreseeable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'as was foreseeable' is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that was expected or predicted to happen. For example, "Due to the weakening economy, the stock market experienced a steep decline, as was foreseeable."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As was foreseeable, nursing activity was proven to be heterogeneous within DRGs.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As I noted, this twist was foreseeable, but then we immediately get another twist that is less expected but also fits nicely into the overall story.

Vice

Thames Trains chairman Martin Ballinger said: "As Lord Cullen's inquiry showed, this accident was foreseeable and preventable.

The Guardian

This emergency was foreseeable.

The New York Times

Each of these problems was foreseeable.

The New York Times

That, too, was foreseeable.

Huffington Post

So concession was foreseeable.

Huffington Post

The tragedy is that this was foreseeable.

Huffington Post

"I don't think the diplomatic consequences, at least as they are foreseeable now, are that significant," she added.

The Guardian

A forgetful principal finds it difficult to distinguish between success and failure on the part of his agent, because bad outcomes are often regarded, after the event, as having been foreseeable ("hindsight bias" is a well-documented psychological phenomenon).

The Economist

This is particularly true when the events were foreseeable, as is the case with the economic events that Cerberus cites.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as was foreseeable" to emphasize that an event or outcome was not only possible to predict but should have been anticipated based on available information. This can add a tone of mild reproach or highlight a failure to act on available knowledge.

Common error

Avoid using "as was foreseeable" in casual conversation or informal writing. The phrase's formality can sound stilted or pretentious in settings that call for a more relaxed tone. Simpler alternatives like "predictably" or "unsurprisingly" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as was foreseeable" functions as an adverbial clause, modifying a main clause to indicate that a particular outcome or event was predictable or should have been anticipated. Ludwig suggests this phrase is grammatically correct.

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, "as was foreseeable" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that an event or outcome was predictable, often implying that it should have been anticipated. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness. While relatively infrequent, it appears in both news and scientific contexts, lending itself to formal and analytical writing. The phrase's authoritative sources include The New York Times and The Guardian, reinforcing its credibility. Consider using alternatives like "predictably" or "unsurprisingly" in more informal settings. Remember to use "as was foreseeable" to emphasize that an event was not only predictable but should have been foreseen, potentially implying a failure to act on available information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as could have been predicted

Emphasizes the prediction aspect, highlighting that the event aligned with prior expectations.

as might have been expected

Focuses on the expectation surrounding the event, suggesting it was a likely outcome.

as was anticipated

Highlights the advance notice or expectation of the event's occurrence.

predictably

A concise adverb that directly expresses the event's predictability.

unsurprisingly

Indicates that the event was not unexpected, aligning with prior understanding.

it was to be expected

Highlights the inevitability or high likelihood of the event.

it was predictable

States directly that the event's occurrence could have been foreseen.

as was likely

Suggests a high probability of the event occurring, indicating foreseeability.

as was always going to happen

Implies a sense of inevitability and predetermination.

it stood to reason

Highlights the logical basis for predicting the event.

FAQs

How can I use "as was foreseeable" in a sentence?

Use "as was foreseeable" to indicate that an outcome or event was predictable based on the available information. For example, "The company's stock price plummeted after the scandal, as was foreseeable."

What is a simpler alternative to "as was foreseeable"?

You can use alternatives like "predictably", "unsurprisingly", or "as expected" depending on the context.

Is "as was foreseeable" more formal than "as expected"?

Yes, "as was foreseeable" is generally more formal than "as expected". The former carries a slightly stronger implication of prior knowledge and potential preventability.

When is it appropriate to use "as was foreseeable" instead of "as was predictable"?

"As was foreseeable" is appropriate when you want to emphasize that the outcome should have been anticipated and potentially avoided. "As was predictable" simply states that it could have been foreseen.