if a situation develops

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if a situation develops" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a conditional scenario where actions or responses may change based on the progression of events. Example: "We will proceed with the plan if a situation develops that requires us to adapt our strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"If a situation develops where it requires us to start exploring contingency plans before things do change dramatically, then obviously that would be in our best interest.

The New York Times - Sports

Watts says: "It is important to us, because if a situation develops where only those who can afford to take long-term unpaid work in London can gain the advantages such a placement in the industry can provide, this would not be inclusive or in the best interests of our students".

The Guardian

If a situation develops where US and European users ignore ads while users in developing nations click randomly on them, isn't that damaging for Facebook's business model?

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I believe, if such a situation develops it will be a Sampson's revenge.

Huffington Post

Dr Paul Oslizlok, a paediatric cardiologist at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, said he understood some parents in Northern Ireland might be concerned if a situation developed late at night that required them to travel to Dublin for surgery at short notice.

BBC

Officials vowed to never let such a situation develop again.

The Washington Post

In addition, the athlete may have too little time to react and/or correct if an injury situation develops rapidly at high skiing speeds.

British Journal of Sports Medicine

"If the situation develops unfavourably, we will have to amend our plans.

Independent

But we also must understand that if the situation develops the old way, we will have to respond.

The New York Times

He added that "if the situation develops otherwise and the war goes beyond such aims, we will change our stance toward it".

The New York Times

"If the situation develops where we would need to use water canon, I would have no hesitation in seeking support from the chief constable of Northern Ireland to deploy them.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "if a situation develops", ensure the subsequent clause clearly outlines the intended action or response to that situation. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using passive voice immediately after "if a situation develops". Instead of saying, "if a situation develops, action will be taken", opt for a more direct and active construction: "if a situation develops, we will take action".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if a situation develops" functions as an adverbial clause of condition, introducing a hypothetical scenario and setting the stage for a subsequent action or outcome. This is according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "if a situation develops" serves as a conditional clause, typically found in news, business, and scientific contexts, indicating a potential scenario that warrants a specific response. Ludwig confirms the phrase is grammatically correct. While there are a limited number of examples, which may suggest it's not extremely frequent, it's versatile enough for different registers. For more formal settings, "should circumstances arise" can be considered, while "if something comes up" is a less formal alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the event that a situation arises

Adding "that" emphasizes the potential condition.

if the need arises

Focuses on necessity as the trigger.

should circumstances arise

Emphasizes formality and unexpectedness of the situation.

if a contingency arises

Specifies that the situation is unexpected.

if a problem occurs

Focuses specifically on problematic scenarios.

in the event of a problem

Highlights a possible problem.

should a scenario unfold

Emphasizes an unfolding event.

if circumstances permit

Highlights the enabling condition for the situation to occur.

if a case unfolds

Implies a gradual unveiling or progression.

if a condition manifests

Emphasizes the appearance or realization of a situation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "if a situation develops" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "should circumstances arise" or "in the event that a situation arises".

What's a less formal way to say "if a situation develops"?

In less formal contexts, you could use phrases like "if something comes up" or "if things change".

Is it better to use "if a situation arises" or "if a situation develops"?

Both "if a situation arises" and "if a situation develops" are grammatically correct. "If a situation arises" implies a situation suddenly comes into existence, while ""if a situation develops"" suggests it evolves over time.

Can "if a situation develops" be used in academic writing?

Yes, ""if a situation develops"" is appropriate for academic writing, especially when discussing potential scenarios or future research directions. Ensure the context is clear and the response to the situation is well-defined.