bit of good fortune

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bit of good fortune" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a small, unexpected positive event or outcome. For example, "Winning the raffle was a bit of good fortune for her." Alternative expressions include "stroke of luck," "piece of luck," and "touch of luck."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Perhaps Safin was overdue for a bit of good fortune.

The New York Times - Sports

We needed a bit of good fortune and we didn't get it.

Independent

All that hard work also brought a little bit of good fortune with a goalkeeping mistake.

The New York Times - Sports

Scotland are due a bit of good fortune, having played better than their results suggest.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Kerik also benefited greatly from a bit of good fortune.

The New York Times

Any extra bit of good fortune must be worth grabbing with both hands.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

And yet, despite such bits of good fortune, New York transportation policy remains in large part mired in the four-lane-highway era.

The New York Times

Revolutions against corrupt and ossified regimes in countries such as Russia and China stoked a steamy enthusiasm that took decades to dissipate.The communist block also had two bits of good fortune.

The Economist

One piece of good fortune?

The New York Times

Whenever Ponty smiles at his latest stroke of good fortune (a change in expression wittily underlined by music and lighting), it's a wee bit chilling.

The New York Times

That run of good fortune ended quickly.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with verbs like "enjoyed", "needed", "encountered" or "benefited from" to create natural-sounding collocations.

Common error

Avoid using redundant adjectives like "lucky bit of good fortune" because fortune already implies luck. Additionally, ensure you use the singular 'bit' unless referring to multiple distinct instances of luck, in which case "bits of good fortune" is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bit of good fortune" functions as a quantified noun phrase. In many Ludwig examples, it acts as the direct object of a verb (e.g., "needed a "bit of good fortune"") or the object of a preposition. It serves to quantify the abstract noun 'fortune', making it feel more like a discrete event rather than a general state of being.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bit of good fortune" is a staple of English journalism and formal writing. According to data from Ludwig, it appears most frequently in contexts where success is being analyzed, particularly in sports and competitive industries. Its primary strength lies in its ability to humanize achievements by acknowledging the role of chance. While it is similar to "stroke of luck", it is often perceived as slightly more grounded. Whether you are describing a favorable ruling in a court case or a goal scored in injury time, using "bit of good fortune" provides a balanced, humble and sophisticated way to characterize unexpected success. Its consistent presence in authoritative sources confirms its status as a reliable and effective linguistic tool.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stroke of luck

suggests a more sudden or decisive moment of serendipity

piece of good fortune

replaces bit with piece, functioning as a near-perfect synonym

lucky break

more informal and often implies a turning point in a career or situation

happy accident

emphasizes the accidental nature of the positive outcome

fortuitous event

significantly more formal and academic in tone

godsend

implies a much-needed benefit that feels like divine intervention

blessing in disguise

indicates something that seemed bad at first but resulted in good fortune

windfall

specifically refers to an unexpected financial gain or large amount of luck

fluke

implies the event was highly unlikely and perhaps unrepeatable

serendipitous moment

focuses on the discovery or timing of the fortunate occurrence

FAQs

What does a bit of good fortune mean?

It refers to a small or singular instance of unexpected luck or a positive development that was not entirely planned. It is often used in sports and business to acknowledge the role of chance.

Is it correct to say a bit of good fortune?

Yes, it is perfectly correct and widely used in professional journalism. Ludwig examples show it appearing frequently in sources like The New York Times and the BBC.

What is a more formal way to say bit of good fortune?

For a more formal or academic tone, you might use "fortuitous occurrence" or "stroke of fortune".

Can I use bit of good luck instead?

Yes, "bit of good luck" is a very common and interchangeable alternative, though "fortune" can sometimes sound slightly more literary or weighted.