has something come up

USAGE SUMMARY

"has something come up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to ask someone if something new or unexpected has occurred, especially in the context of making or canceling plans. For example: "We were planning to meet tomorrow, but has something come up?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I had something come up.

The Washington Post

We had a moment the other night where my daughter had something come up—oh, she fell out of the chair.

University of California, Berkeley

Mike Wellman, a tax accountant in Longview, Tex., who specializes in helping business that owe back taxes, said "many small businesses will inevitably have something come up that will cause them to use the money and hope against hope that they can somehow make the quarterly payment on time".

The New York Times

"Not necessarily, I mean, if… you know, had something come up, had I had an issue, I would have talked to her, I would have trusted her.

BMC Family Practice

(pansexual female) P2 "Not necessarily, I mean, if… you know, had something come up, had I had an issue, I would have talked to her, I would have trusted her.

BMC Family Practice

You had something come up, such as a family emergency.

WikiHow

They may have something coming up in the future, but haven't advertised yet.

The Guardian

If you are sleepy and you have something coming up that is going to require alert behavior, taking a nap is a good thing.

Stanford University

"We have something coming up right away and quick to focus our attention and Steve's attention".

The New York Times

If I DO have something coming up, it's usually some form of this answer: "Yes!

Huffington Post

He mentioned that he had something coming up..

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has something come up", ensure the context clearly implies a potential disruption or change in plans. This phrase is ideal for inquiring if an unforeseen event has altered someone's availability or intentions.

Common error

Avoid using "has something come up" when a simple 'what's wrong?' or 'what happened?' would suffice. This phrase is specifically suited for situations where a previously agreed plan or expected outcome might be affected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has something come up" functions as an interrogative expression used to inquire whether an unforeseen event or issue has arisen, potentially causing a change in plans or availability. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Science

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Less common in

Academia

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Wiki

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has something come up" is a grammatically correct and useful phrase for inquiring whether an unforeseen event has caused a change in plans or availability. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's essential to use it in relevant contexts, avoiding misuse when simpler questions would suffice. Although the phrase is versatile, a more formal alternative should be used in highly formal contexts to maintain a professional tone. Because there were no example sentences, usage patterns could not be determined. Nonetheless, the phrase remains a valuable addition to your communication toolkit, provided it is used judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Did something arise?

Focuses specifically on whether an issue or problem has emerged.

Has an issue emerged?

Directly asks about the appearance of a new problem or difficulty.

Did anything happen?

A general inquiry about any event or occurrence.

Were there any complications?

Inquires about problems that may have arisen to disrupt plans.

Has anything changed?

Asks if there have been any alterations to the original plan or situation.

Did something unexpected occur?

Directly asks if something unforeseen took place.

Has a problem surfaced?

Inquires whether a difficulty or issue has appeared.

Did anything go wrong?

Asks if there were any malfunctions or errors.

Has there been an interruption?

Focuses on whether something has disrupted an activity or plan.

Were there any hitches?

Inquires about minor difficulties or setbacks.

FAQs

How can I politely ask if something unexpected occurred using "has something come up"?

You can use it directly: "I was expecting you, "has something come up"?" or "We had plans, but "has something come up" that prevents you from coming?"

What's a more formal alternative to "has something come up"?

In formal settings, consider "Did an unforeseen matter arise?" or "Were there any unexpected complications?" instead of ""has something come up"".

How does "has something come up" differ from "did anything happen"?

"Has something come up" implies a potential disruption to plans or expectations, while "did anything happen" is a more general inquiry about any event or occurrence.

Is it appropriate to use "has something come up" in a professional email?

Yes, it's perfectly acceptable, provided the context is relevant. For instance, if a colleague missed a meeting, you could politely inquire, "Has something come up that prevented you from attending?"