exceptional event

USAGE SUMMARY

"exceptional event" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to refer to something extraordinary that happened or is happening; for example, "The concert was an exceptional event that hundreds of people won't soon forget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet by now this looks like one more exceptional event in the sea of exceptions that make up everyday reality here in Greece.

The Guardian - Opinion

Europe's refugee emergency is considered to be an exceptional event.

Independent

A lunch with so many Presidents was an exceptional event.

The New Yorker

This exceptional event is neither a ground level enhancement nor a geomagnetic effect in cosmic rays.

Advances in Space Research

The murder of prisoners by guards, formerly an exceptional event in the camps, now became unremarkable.

The New Yorker

An exceptional event was dealt with by the meticulous application of endlessly rehearsed routine.

The New Yorker

The easiest reform to institute would turn the use of unidentified sources into an exceptional event.

The New York Times

"That was the exceptional event, and now we're seeing a return to normality in emerging markets".

The New York Times

Prior restraint on expression, by contrast, should be a rare and exceptional event, as just suggested.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the truly exceptional event can only be handled as such and as it comes.

Harvard Business Review

Exception handling enables programmers to specify the behavior of a program when an exceptional event occurs at runtime.

Science of Computer Programming

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exceptional event" when you want to emphasize that something stands out from the norm and is particularly noteworthy. It is suitable for describing planned occurrences like festivals, as well as unexpected situations like natural disasters.

Common error

While "exceptional event" is widely applicable, consider more casual alternatives such as "special occasion" or "memorable moment" in everyday conversations to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exceptional event" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "exceptional" modifies the noun "event". It describes a specific occurrence that is out of the ordinary or particularly noteworthy, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exceptional event" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe an occurrence that stands out from the ordinary. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage. Its function is to emphasize the unique or noteworthy nature of an event. The phrase is suitable for neutral to formal contexts, found most commonly in news, scientific and business domains. When using the phrase, be mindful of your audience and context, opting for more casual alternatives when appropriate. Notable sources using this phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remarkable occurrence

Changes the noun to 'occurrence', emphasizing the fact that something happened.

unusual incident

Uses 'incident' to suggest a more contained or specific happening.

extraordinary circumstance

Replaces 'event' with 'circumstance', framing it as a condition or situation.

notable phenomenon

Shifts the focus to a more observable or scientifically interesting happening.

singular happening

Emphasizes the uniqueness of the event.

unprecedented situation

Highlights that the situation has never occurred before.

rare episode

Implies that the event is one of a series but is uncommon.

unique instance

Focuses on the individuality and distinct nature of the event.

one-of-a-kind affair

Uses more informal language to describe something special and unique.

out-of-the-ordinary experience

Highlights the deviation from normal occurrences and the experiential aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "exceptional event" in a sentence?

You can use "exceptional event" to describe something noteworthy that has occurred, such as, "The conference was an "exceptional event" for networking and collaboration."

What phrases are similar to "exceptional event"?

Alternatives to "exceptional event" include "remarkable occurrence", "unusual incident", or "extraordinary circumstance", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "exceptional event" formal or informal?

"Exceptional event" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. However, for very informal situations, you might prefer phrases like "special occasion".

What makes an event "exceptional"?

An event is considered "exceptional" when it significantly deviates from the norm, either due to its unique nature, scale, impact, or a combination of these factors.