in the event that there was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the event that there was" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a hypothetical situation or condition that may have occurred in the past. Example: "In the event that there was a power outage, we have a backup generator ready to go."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

In the event that there was not a positive outcome and Ryanair had to amend its contract with Charleroi, he said, at least four other airports were willing to step in - although he declined to name them.

The Guardian - Business

ILYA SHLYAKHTER Cambridge, Mass., Dec. 28, 2012 To the Editor: In the event that there was any doubt, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has demonstrated that he is an extraordinarily heartless, cruel and dangerous man.

The New York Times

In the event that there was a case with missing data, it was deleted as the sample size was shaping to be sufficiently large for the study.

International Journal of STEM Education

In the event that there was grafted bone above the implant, the distance was measured from the point of intersection of the line connecting the buccal and palatal side of the maxillary sinus floor and the medial axis of the implant to the implant tip (+mm).

International Journal of Implant Dentistry

In the event that there was an additional segment that lacked an EPIYA motif between two neighboring EPIYA segments, a hyphen was added between the two EPIYA segments (e.g., A-C, A-D).

Plosone

A third independent reviewer evaluated a radiograph in the event that there was discordant reporting between the two reviewers.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"In the event that there's a complaint, there's no defined way to proceed.

Science Magazine

In the event that there is a tie, the award will be shared.

BBC

In the event that there is a real threat, the public will be informed, he added.

Huffington Post

In the event that there is a contraindication to pharmacological thromboprophylaxis, consider nonpharmacological treatments.

Clinical interventions in aging

where is the event, and is the event that there is an such that,, and.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in the event that there was", ensure the subsequent clause clearly outlines the action or consequence related to the hypothetical situation.

Common error

Avoid using future tense verbs in the 'then' clause when using "in the event that there was". Instead, use past conditional or past subjunctive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the event that there was" functions as a conditional conjunction, introducing a hypothetical situation in the past. It sets up a condition that, if met, would have resulted in a particular outcome. Ludwig confirms its proper use.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in the event that there was" is a grammatically sound phrase used to introduce a hypothetical or conditional situation in the past. Ludwig confirms this. It is most commonly found in science, news media, and formal business contexts, implying a slightly formal tone. Related alternatives include "if there happened to be" and "should there have been". When using this phrase, ensure correct tense usage in both clauses to avoid common errors. The examples show a preference for science and news media sources. Therefore, keep in mind the usage context and consider whether a simpler alternative could do the same job to avoid sounding overly formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if there happened to be

Replaces "in the event that" with a simpler conditional.

should there have been

Uses an inverted conditional structure for a more formal tone.

if there was

A more concise and direct conditional statement.

in cases where there was

Focuses on specific instances or situations.

assuming there was

Indicates a hypothetical condition being considered.

on the condition that there was

Highlights the dependency on a specific condition.

if it happened that there was

Adds emphasis on the hypothetical nature of the event.

supposing there was

Implies a conjecture or hypothesis.

given that there was

Acknowledges a possibility or premise.

in a situation where there was

Specifies a contextual scenario.

FAQs

How can I use "in the event that there was" in a sentence?

Use "in the event that there was" to introduce a hypothetical or past condition and explain the consequence. For example: "In the event that there was a fire, the alarm would have sounded".

What phrases are similar to "in the event that there was"?

Similar phrases include "if there happened to be", "should there have been", or simply "if there was".

Is "in the event that there was" formal or informal?

"In the event that there was" is relatively formal. In informal contexts, using just "if there was" can be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "in the event that there was" and "in the case that there was"?

Both phrases introduce a condition, but "in the event that there was" typically implies a more specific or significant potential occurrence, while "in the case that there was" is more general. They can often be used interchangeably, but context matters.