curious coincidence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "curious coincidence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an unexpected or surprising occurrence that seems to have a meaningful connection. Example: "It was a curious coincidence that both of us chose the same restaurant for dinner without knowing the other's plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

A curious coincidence?

The New York Times

Is it just a curious coincidence?

The Guardian - Opinion

"Yozhef Sabo goes down heavily, John Greig behind him", was the curious coincidence reported by Macpherson.

The Guardian - Sport

Above Umenyiora's locker, in a curious coincidence, is the word "Coach".

The New York Times

By a curious coincidence, the Palestinian foreign minister, Riad al-Malki, went to see Bensouda on Tuesday.

The Guardian

My father left us when I was five to join the Blackshirts, which seems to me a curious coincidence.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

So it was one of those curious coincidences that there were two in town last night.

The New York Times

Though Serratore abhors any suggestion that his team's run has been a fluke, he concedes curious coincidences are at play.

The New York Times - Sports

Richard Ladner, another winner of the 2008 Purpose Prize, not only has a Ph.D. from Berkeley, by one of those curious coincidences he received it in 1971, the same year as Arlene Blum (see above).

University of California, Berkeley

Helliwell, David says, communicates via "obstacles and deceptively simple challenges, as well as clues and cryptic messages, curious coincidences, peculiar experiences and inner perceptions".

Forbes

Whatever the case may be, there are enough curious coincidences here to conjecture that there could be more (or, really, less) to Amazon Go than meets the eye, which is why, as I have stated before, the competition should not rush to copy Amazon Go for its own purposes.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "curious coincidence" to introduce an element of surprise or intrigue in your writing. It's effective when setting up a narrative hook or highlighting an unexpected connection between events or ideas.

Common error

Avoid using "curious coincidence" too frequently in a single piece of writing, as it can lose its impact. Vary your language with synonyms like "strange coincidence" or "odd coincidence" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "curious coincidence" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject complement or an appositive. It describes a situation or event characterized by an unexpected or noteworthy concurrence, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "curious coincidence" is a noun phrase used to describe an unexpected and noteworthy concurrence of events or facts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for a wide range of contexts, particularly in news and media, academic and scientific writing. While common, it's advisable to avoid overuse and consider alternatives like "strange coincidence" or "odd coincidence" to maintain writing impact. The phrase serves to highlight intriguing connections, adding depth and interest to narratives or analytical discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weird coincidence

Uses "weird" instead of "curious", conveying the coincidence is strange or unusual.

intriguing coincidence

Replaces "curious" with "intriguing", emphasizing the captivating or fascinating nature of the coincidence.

fascinating coincidence

Emphasizes the captivating or mesmerizing nature of the coincidence.

funny coincidence

Replaces "curious" with "funny", suggesting the coincidence is amusing or humorous.

curious match

Replaces "coincidence" with "match", focusing on the unexpected alignment of elements.

curious convergence

Replaces "coincidence" with "convergence", highlighting the merging or intersection of events.

curious circumstance

Substitutes "coincidence" with "circumstance", highlighting the odd nature of the situation.

curious correspondence

Highlights the matching or similarity between two things that are curious.

curious case

Shifts the focus to the situation being a "case" with a curious element, instead of a straight coincidence.

curious agreement

Changes the nature of the coincidence towards an unexpected consensus or alignment.

FAQs

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

You can use "curious coincidence" to highlight an unexpected connection. For example: "It was a "curious coincidence" that we both chose the same book."

What are some alternatives to "curious coincidence"?

Alternatives include "strange coincidence", "odd coincidence", or "interesting coincidence depending on the context".

Is it correct to say "a curious coincidence happened"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. You can also say "it's a "curious coincidence" that...".

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

"Curious" suggests something is interesting or noteworthy, while "strange" implies something is unusual or odd. Both are very similar, but ""strange coincidence"" emphasizes the unexpected nature more strongly.