changes to happen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "changes to happen" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and may need rephrasing for clarity. Example: "We need to implement changes to happen effectively in our organization."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

They are five separate views of Woldgate, and with each one I had to wait for the changes to happen.

The Guardian - Arts

For these changes to happen, the care sector, and how we as a nation will fund it, needs to be on the political agenda.

The Guardian

Some analysts say that new concessions by the Swiss may now be unavoidable, though few expect those changes to happen overnight.

The New York Times

"The initiative process is one of the reasons California has issues, but it also allows changes to happen if the Legislature has difficulty acting," said Nicolas Berggruen, a billionaire investor who is the head of the Think Long Committee.

The New York Times

And while we know that investments in women's education, health and economic participation are necessary to bridging the gender gap, it can take a long time for those changes to happen.

The New York Times

Whitzman adds: "I think that women's safety is vitally important, obviously, but I think it's part of that larger argument about the right to the city and I think it's part of a larger move of people saying: 'This is my space, I'm capable of mapping it and asking for these changes to happen.'" Follow Guardian Cities on Twitter and Facebook and join the discussion.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

We want the change to happen.

The New York Times - Sports

"They wanted the change to happen at their own school".

The New York Times

For change to happen there needs to be government support".

The Guardian

For real change to happen, the airlines are going to have to take a lead role.

The Economist

But for real change to happen, private motorists will have to follow suit.They might be tempted.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical precision, substitute "happen" with alternatives like "occur" or "take place".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "changes to happen" in formal writing. While common, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Instead, use more precise alternatives like "changes to occur" or "changes to take place" to guarantee clarity and grammatical precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "changes to happen" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used to express the necessity or possibility of alterations. Ludwig AI indicates this construction is questionable in standard English, recommending alternatives for clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Huffington Post

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

4%

Science & Research

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "changes to happen" is commonly used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and business, Ludwig AI signals its grammatical ambiguity. As a result, it's often better to use more precise and formal alternatives such as "changes to occur" or "changes to take place". When clarity and grammatical correctness are paramount, especially in formal writing, prioritize these alternatives to effectively communicate the necessity or possibility of change. In short, while widespread, "changes to happen" should be carefully considered and, when in doubt, replaced with a more standard expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

changes to occur

Replaces "happen" with "occur", offering a more formal and grammatically standard alternative.

changes to take place

Substitutes "happen" with "take place", providing a common and generally accepted alternative.

changes to come about

Replaces "happen" with "come about", suggesting a more gradual or natural process of change.

changes to materialize

Uses "materialize" instead of "happen", indicating that changes are becoming concrete or real.

for changes to be implemented

Shifts the focus to the implementation of changes, emphasizing the action taken to make them occur.

for changes to be realized

Highlights the achievement or fulfillment of changes, rather than just their occurrence.

changes must be enacted

Emphasizes the necessity of implementing changes through a formal or authoritative process.

changes are required

Focuses on the need for changes, rather than the process of them occurring.

transformation is needed

Indicates a deeper, more fundamental shift is necessary, rather than just simple changes.

a shift is essential

Highlights the criticality of a change in direction or approach.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "changes to happen" to sound more formal?

To achieve a more formal tone, you can replace "changes to happen" with alternatives such as "changes to occur" or "changes to take place".

Is "changes to happen" grammatically correct?

While frequently used, "changes to happen" is often considered grammatically questionable. Opt for more conventional phrases like "changes to be implemented" or "changes to materialize" for improved clarity.

What's a more direct way to express that changes are necessary?

Instead of "changes to happen", consider using phrases that emphasize the necessity of change, such as "changes are required" or "transformation is needed", depending on the scale of the change.

How does "changes to happen" differ from "changes to come about"?

"Changes to happen" is a general way of stating that changes will occur. "Changes to come about" suggests that the changes will occur more naturally or gradually over time.