encounters

USAGE SUMMARY

"encounters" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when referring to a chance or unpredictable meeting, or when talking about experiences someone has had. Example: Our team had some unexpected encounters during our trip, but ultimately it was a success.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A November report by a British thinktank noted a rise in close military encounters between Russia and the west this year, including "violations of national airspace, emergency scrambles, narrowly avoided mid-air collisions, close encounters at sea, simulated attack runs and other dangerous actions happening on a regular basis over a very wide geographical area".

The Guardian

Manhattan's compact geography, points out Pfahler, means many artistic projects begin with chance encounters.

The Guardian - Music

We were in the Wigmore Hall, halfway through an epic weekend of music, film, poetry and artwork from Terezín organised by the great London-based chamber music group the Nash Ensemble; an event previewed in this newspaper that has since spawned many adventures and encounters.

The Guardian - Music

Kasparov had praise, however, for his opponent – who was seen during their encounters in the early 1980s as the face of Soviet communism.

The Guardian - Sport

He travelled with the young hooligans, observed their encounters at close quarters and, in Rules of Disorder (1978), wrote the first detailed report of their rituals and battles.

The Guardian

Viggo stumbles and sweats through the unforgiving landscape and a series of surreal encounters.

The Guardian - Film

Some women the bus encounters don't regard what they are talking about as "politics" at all.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rush Limbaugh – if not the de facto leader of the Republican party, then surely the clearest expression of its "id" – called her a prostitute and demanded that she post video of her sexual encounters on the internet.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the commercial, a housewife encounters the product in a grocery store aisle and ponders whether to add it to her trolley.

The Guardian

AIJAC head Mark Leibler didn't realise or care during his ABC TV Lateline interview last week that boasting about such encounters, when most of his meetings with prime ministers and senior ministers aren't on the public record, reinforces the public perception that they too often operate in the dark, without accountability.

The Guardian - Opinion

The former international criminal court judge said her encounters with serious human rights abuses, which included serving on the Rwanda tribunal, did not make her take online privacy less seriously.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "encounters", consider whether "meetings", "interactions", or "experiences" might be more precise depending on the specific context you wish to convey.

Common error

While "encounters" is widely applicable, avoid overuse in formal or business writing where more precise terms like "meetings", "interactions", or "discussions" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "encounters" is as a plural noun, referring to instances of meeting someone or something, often unexpectedly. As Ludwig AI explains, the term is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "encounters" is a versatile term used as a plural noun to describe meetings or experiences, often unplanned. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various writing contexts. The phrase is most commonly found in "News & Media", "Formal & Business", and "Science", and it is generally considered neutral in register. While "encounters" is widely applicable, consider more precise alternatives like "meetings", "interactions", or "experiences" in formal settings to enhance clarity and specificity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meetings

Focuses on the act of people coming together, often planned.

interactions

Highlights the reciprocal action or influence between entities.

confrontations

Emphasizes a face-to-face conflict or challenge.

experiences

Refers to events or circumstances one has lived through.

clashes

Suggests a brief but intense period of conflict.

run-ins

Implies unplanned, often negative meetings.

occurrences

Describes events that happen, often unexpectedly.

face-offs

Indicates a direct confrontation, often in a competitive setting.

happenings

Highlights events that take place, without specific emphasis on interaction.

dealings

Refers to interactions, often business-related.

FAQs

How can I use "encounters" in a sentence?

"Encounters" can be used to describe unplanned meetings or experiences. For example, "The researcher documented his "encounters" with the local population."

What are some alternatives to using "encounters"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "meetings", "interactions", or "experiences".

Is "encounters" formal or informal?

"Encounters" is generally neutral and acceptable in most contexts, but for very formal settings, consider a more precise alternative.

What's the difference between "encounters" and "interactions"?

"Encounters" often implies a chance or unpredictable meeting, while "interactions" suggest a more deliberate and reciprocal action.