curious chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "curious chance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an unexpected or intriguing occurrence that seems coincidental or surprising. Example: "It was a curious chance that we both ended up at the same café on the same day, despite living in different cities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

By curious chance, Mr Solorzano was the non-Liberal, non-Sandinist, favourite to win the mayor's job this November.

The Economist

Now he must reckon with a new readiness for political activism.In this section No fund of love for the IMF After Fujimori's "victory" Curious chance A non-voting fiasco in Venezuela ReprintsHow will he react?

The Economist

But when the CNE admitted, just three days before the vote was due, that its automated voting system was full of glitches anyway, the judges could do little but approve the motion and suspend the whole process.In this section No fund of love for the IMF After Fujimori's "victory" Curious chance A non-voting fiasco in Venezuela ReprintsThe search for culprits began at once.

The Economist

The rest will come from reductions in special pensions paid to senior former state employees, and cuts in cash for enterprises like Telam, the state news agency.In this section No fund of love for the IMF After Fujimori's "victory" Curious chance A non-voting fiasco in Venezuela ReprintsWhy?

The Economist

By a curious chance — which they had come to think of as "destiny" or, as they more often called it, "a curse" — they shared a name, a long name like so many names of the south, a name that neither of them cared to speak.

The New Yorker

By the same token, evidence for the diversity of human species through time has been downplayed, first by the cultural inertia of stories of an upwards progression towards the human state; second, by the curious chance that Homo sapiens happens to be the only species of human around today - a situation probably unprecedented in 7m years.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Vegas's live appearances are pretty sporadic these days, but this special guest appearance as compere allows connoisseurs and the curious the chance to sample what is certainly a distinctive approach to the art of comedy.

The Guardian

But it was not until the nineteenth-century invention of the aquarium that the deep was truly domesticated, offering the curious a chance to create an indoor exotic sea world, in miniature.

University of Chicago

The "Ask a Scientist" event gives curious passerby the chance to pose their climate-related questions to scientists stationed around New York City.

The New Yorker

On Sunday afternoon at Avery Fisher the conductor Leon Botstein gave Strauss fans and the otherwise curious a rare chance to hear "Die Liebe der Danae".

The New York Times - Arts

THIN WIRELESS NETWORKS: www.thinwireless.com -- Gives curious souls a chance to experience Linux with its free My Thin Linux, a virtual desktop that allows users to work in Linux programs from a Windows or Mac system.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "curious chance" to describe situations where the unexpected nature of an event is noteworthy. It adds a touch of intrigue.

Common error

Avoid using "curious chance" in highly formal or technical writing where simpler, more direct language is preferred, such as "unusual occurrence" or "unexpected event".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "curious chance" functions as a modifier describing a noun. It highlights the unexpected, intriguing, or noteworthy nature of an event, outcome, or opportunity. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "curious chance" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes an unexpected or intriguing occurrence. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts but also appears in scientific and academic writing. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness. While it is not overly formal, it should be used with consideration of the audience and context. Alternatives such as "strange coincidence" or "odd coincidence" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Overall, "curious chance" is a valuable phrase to add intrigue when describing unexpected events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strange coincidence

Replaces "chance" with "coincidence", emphasizing the unexpected alignment of events.

odd coincidence

Similar to "strange coincidence", but uses "odd" to convey a sense of peculiarity.

peculiar coincidence

Substitutes "curious" with "peculiar", highlighting the unusual nature of the event.

unusual happenstance

Replaces both "curious" and "chance" with synonyms that maintain a similar level of formality.

fluke occurrence

Emphasizes the accidental and improbable nature of the event.

rare opportunity

Focuses on the infrequency of the event, highlighting its special nature.

serendipitous event

Highlights the fortunate and unexpected nature of the occurrence.

fortuitous circumstance

Emphasizes the positive and lucky aspects of the situation.

unexpected twist of fate

Implies that an external force influenced the event.

bizarre twist

Conveys more surprise and unpredictability about the situation

FAQs

How can I use "curious chance" in a sentence?

You can use "curious chance" to describe an event or situation that happened unexpectedly or is an odd coincidence. For example: By "curious chance", Mr. Solorzano was the non-Liberal, non-Sandinist, favorite to win the mayor's job.

What are some alternatives to "curious chance"?

Alternatives include "strange coincidence", "odd coincidence", or "unusual happenstance". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "curious chance" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "curious chance" might be perceived as slightly informal for highly technical or academic contexts. Consider alternatives like "unusual occurrence" or "unexpected event" for a more formal tone.

What's the difference between "curious chance" and "strange coincidence"?

Both phrases suggest an unexpected event. "Curious chance" implies that the event is intriguing or noteworthy, while "strange coincidence" simply emphasizes the oddity of the event.