as was to be expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as was to be expected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurred in a manner that was anticipated or predicted. Example: "The project faced several delays, as was to be expected given the complexity of the tasks involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Books

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The performances were as glorious as was to be expected.

The Guardian - Music

The vast majority did, as was to be expected.

The Guardian - Opinion

As was to be expected, the unemployment numbers announced by the ONS today were bad.

The Guardian - Opinion

Kaepernick, as was to be expected, kept his voice out of the mix.

The New York Times - Sports

As was to be expected, of course, he was happiest after she had left.

The Guardian - Books

A fair amount of improvisation occurred, as was to be expected.

The New York Times

Mr. Charlap, as was to be expected, chose a polite approach.

The New York Times - Arts

"Overall, the situation is not dramatic, but, as was to be expected, it's tense," the 62-year-old said.

The Guardian - Business

As was to be expected, he described the ouster of former President Viktor Yanukovych as illegal and unconstitutional.

The New Yorker

As was to be expected, during this year, his collections were concentrated in Zacuapam and neighboring areas, although he returned for the fourth time to the Sierra Nevada.

University of California, Berkeley

She wrote: "As was to be expected, I often heard some heartbreaking stories about lives that had been torn apart, with devastating impacts for all involved, particularly children.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as was to be expected" to acknowledge that an outcome was predictable based on prior knowledge or circumstances. This can add a sense of realism or acceptance to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "as was to be expected" too frequently in creative writing, as it can disrupt the flow and make the narrative sound predictable. Consider using more descriptive language to convey the sense of inevitability instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as was to be expected" serves as an adverbial phrase, modifying a clause by indicating that the event or situation being described was predictable or anticipated. Ludwig AI supports its use in various sentence structures, demonstrating its versatility in expressing expected outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Books

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as was to be expected" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that an outcome was predictable. Ludwig AI confirms its versatility and natural fit in many contexts. While it appears most often in news and media, it's also common in scientific writing. When writing, using the expression adds a sense of realism and acceptance. Consider more concise alternatives like "predictably" or "unsurprisingly", particularly in informal settings, as highlighted in the writing guidance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

predictably

A single-word adverb, offering a more concise way to convey the idea.

unsurprisingly

Another single-word adverb, highlighting the lack of surprise in the outcome.

inevitably

Emphasizes the unavoidable nature of the event.

as anticipated

A more formal alternative, suitable for academic or professional contexts.

as foreseen

Similar to "as anticipated", but suggests a more proactive prediction.

naturally

Suggests the event was a normal or logical consequence.

not surprisingly

Expresses the same idea with a slightly different sentence structure.

it was no surprise that

A more emphatic way to express the lack of surprise.

in keeping with expectations

A more formal and elaborate way to say something happened as predicted.

all things considered

This phrase is used to say that you are taking all the facts into consideration, especially the problems and difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "as was to be expected" in a sentence?

You can use "as was to be expected" to indicate that a certain outcome or result was predictable or not surprising based on the circumstances. For example: "The project faced several delays, "as was to be expected", given the complexity of the tasks involved."

What are some alternatives to "as was to be expected"?

Alternatives to "as was to be expected" include "predictably", "unsurprisingly", or "as anticipated". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality desired.

Is "as was to be expected" formal or informal?

"As was to be expected" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more concise alternatives might be preferred in very informal settings.

What is the difference between "as expected" and "as was to be expected"?

"As expected" is a shorter and more direct way of saying the same thing as "as was to be expected". The longer version emphasizes the predictability of the event slightly more, but they are largely interchangeable.