how things will unfold

USAGE SUMMARY

"how things will unfold" is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to the way a particular situation will develop or progress over time. For example: "It's hard to predict how things will unfold over the next few months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It assumes we don't know exactly how things will unfold, that we'll be surprised, that we'll make mistakes along the way.

The New York Times

Other authors promise to eliminate the uncertainty inherent in the situation by making inexcusably specific claims about how things will unfold.

The Guardian

So far, most companies have chosen option No. 1, sitting on the sidelines to watch how things will unfold or rolling out select pieces in very limited trials.

Forbes

"The order created an instant flurry and the level of speculation rose to a new pitch, with people wondering about how things will unfold and how matters will be handled," it said.

BBC

So it's going to be mighty interesting how things will unfold in forthcoming episodes.

Huffington Post

Now with the historic "Iran Deal" rancorously inked into law, we search for clues as to how things will unfold.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Things will unfold soon enough.

HuffPost

"This thing will unfold with time".

The New York Times

Temporal data is data about, not just how things are right now, but also about how things used to be and how things will become or might become.

Managing Time in Relational Databases How to Design, Update and Query Temporal Data

And while I suppose we will, too, have to be uncertain about exactly how his journey will unfold, one thing is sure.

The Guardian

How this will unfold, though, depends on where you live.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how things will unfold" when discussing future developments where the exact outcome is uncertain but the general direction is being observed or anticipated.

Common error

While acceptable in many situations, "how things will unfold" might sound too informal for highly formal or scientific writing. Consider more precise or technical language when writing for those audiences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how things will unfold" functions as a clause, often dependent, expressing an inquiry or statement about the future progression of events or circumstances. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is a valid way to discuss the development of a situation over time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how things will unfold" is a versatile phrase used to express curiosity or anticipation about future developments. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and while it's most common in news and media, it also appears in academic contexts. While the phrase carries a neutral tone suitable for general use, remember to consider more formal alternatives for scientific writing. Understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts will ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how the situation will develop

Substitutes "things" with "the situation" and "unfold" with "develop", focusing on a specific set of circumstances.

how the story will progress

Substitutes "things" with "the story" and "unfold" with "progress", focusing on narrative development.

how events will transpire

Replaces "things" with "events" and "unfold" with "transpire", indicating a more formal and specific occurrence.

how the scenario will pan out

Replaces "things" with "the scenario" and "unfold" with "pan out", indicating a more casual and observational perspective.

how the future will play out

Replaces "things" with "the future" and "unfold" with "play out", suggesting a broader, more theatrical development.

how the course of events will run

Replaces "things" with "the course of events" and "unfold" with "run", suggesting a predetermined path.

how matters will proceed

Uses "matters" instead of "things" and "proceed" for "unfold", implying a formal and structured progression.

how the consequences will emerge

Focuses on the "consequences" rather than general "things" and uses "emerge" to highlight the outcome.

in what manner events will take place

A more formal phrasing, replacing "how things will unfold" with a detailed description of events occurring.

what the outcome of events will be

Focuses specifically on the final result or outcome, replacing the unfolding process.

FAQs

What does "how things will unfold" mean?

The phrase "how things will unfold" refers to the way a situation or series of events will develop or progress over time. It implies a sense of anticipation and observation as events occur.

What can I say instead of "how things will unfold"?

You can use alternatives like "how events will transpire", "how the situation will develop", or "how the future will play out" depending on the context.

Is "how things will unfold" a formal or informal expression?

The expression "how things will unfold" is generally considered neutral in formality. While suitable for news articles and general discussions, it may be too informal for highly academic or scientific writing. For those contexts, alternatives such as "how events will transpire" might be more appropriate.

How do you use "how things will unfold" in a sentence?

You can use "how things will unfold" to express uncertainty and anticipation about future events, as in, "It's difficult to predict "how things will unfold" in the current economic climate", or "We're waiting to see "how things will unfold" after the new regulations are implemented."