it often happened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it often happened" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a recurring event or situation that took place frequently in the past. Example: "During the summer months, it often happened that we would go camping in the mountains."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

And so it often happened with those practical people.

The New Yorker

It happened to all of us, but it often happened to Jack.

The New York Times - Magazine

It often happened that when really valuable people got into bad trouble they were changed into constellations.

The New Yorker

"It often happened that there were new lines in the morning — something I detest, I need time to get familiar with the dialogue – but he didn't mind," he added.

The New York Times

She was "a very beautiful woman" and yet, he wrote, it often happened that "the crowd in the street... would go into fits of laughter at the sight of Virginia".

The New Yorker

Included in the report was confirmation that because so many of the victims were sleeping when the rockets came in, it often happened that single families lost multiple members.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

In a CR network, it often happens that a PU (source node) wants to send its data in a limited period of time.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

It often happens.

The New Yorker

It often happens that pupils watch movies during lesson hours.

The Guardian

"It often happens to me," said my wife, repeating dialogue.

The New York Times

It often happens that victims, in a reversal of roles, become perpetrators".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it often happened", ensure the context clearly establishes the time frame and subject to avoid ambiguity. For example, "In the 19th century, it often happened that families would gather around the piano for an evening of music."

Common error

Avoid using "it often happened" without specific context. Instead of saying "It often happened that people were late", provide context: "During the construction phase, it often happened that workers were late due to traffic delays."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it often happened" functions as an impersonal construction used to describe recurring events or situations in the past. As shown in Ludwig, it often introduces a clause explaining what frequently occurred.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it often happened" is a grammatically sound way to describe recurring events in the past. As indicated by Ludwig, its frequency is classified as uncommon, showing up most frequently in News & Media and Scientific publications. The Ludwig AI analysis confirms the phrase is correct and usable. When using the phrase, ensure you provide sufficient context to the time frame and subject matter, clarifying what event happened frequently. If you're looking for alternatives, "it frequently occurred" and "it commonly took place" offer similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it frequently occurred

Replaces "often" with "frequently", emphasizing the regularity of the occurrence.

it repeatedly occurred

Emphasizes the repeated nature of the event.

it commonly took place

Substitutes "happened" with "took place", highlighting the event's occurrence in a general sense.

it was a common occurrence

Restructures the phrase to emphasize the event as a "common occurrence".

it oftentimes occurred

Uses the less common adverb "oftentimes" for "often".

it regularly transpired

Uses "regularly" instead of "often" and "transpired" instead of "happened", suggesting a more formal tone.

it was a frequent event

Similar to the above, but uses "frequent event" instead of "common occurrence".

it habitually transpired

Similar to "regularly transpired" but emphasizes the habitual nature.

it was typical for that to happen

Expresses the idea as a typical occurrence, changing the sentence structure.

that was a usual occurrence

Similar to "it was typical for that to happen", but more concise.

FAQs

How can I use "it often happened" in a sentence?

Use "it often happened" to describe events that recurred frequently in the past. For example, "During the summer months, "it often happened" that we would go camping."

What's a more formal alternative to "it often happened"?

A more formal alternative is "it frequently occurred" or "it regularly transpired", which can be used in academic or professional contexts.

Is there a subtle difference between "it often happened" and "it often happens"?

Yes, "it often happened" refers to past events, while "it often happens" describes present or ongoing occurrences. Use "it often happens" to describe something that generally occurs now.

Can I use "it often happened" to describe a future event?

No, "it often happened" is strictly for past events. Use phrases like "it is likely to happen" or "it may often occur" to discuss possible future events.