occur

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "occur" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has happened or is happening. For example: "An unexpected delay occurred when the shipment didn't arrive on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One of the things that's increasingly clear about the way financial markets work is that the order in which events occur matters quite a bit.

The Economist

Fealy said the incident was a "glaring example" of the backlash that can occur as a result of a few frustrated remarks.

The Guardian

It didn't occur to me for a second I could have some kinship with other groups.

The Guardian - Film

The Civil Contingency Act, presented as modernising emergency powers for the age of terrorism, allows ministers in an emergency, which they only have to believe is about to occur, to make practically any provision without reference to parliament.

The Guardian - Opinion

In a busy schedule where usually the legislation is very arcane, it can take years, if ever, for necessary change to occur.

The Guardian - Opinion

In reality, grasping that your parents are flawed is unlikely to have any long-term adverse effects (and it is a realisation likely to occur repeatedly throughout one's life).

The Guardian - Opinion

If people think they can delete their criminal history, it won't occur.

The Guardian - Tech

The excise increase had been scheduled to take effect from 1 August, and will now occur on 10 November, with further inflation-linked increases on 1 February and 1 August 2015.

The Guardian

It most commonly affects women aged over 50, but can occur in women of all ages.

The Guardian

Many of the IG's recommendations to assure such actions do not occur in the future have already been acted upon," he said in the statement.

The Guardian

But when such conditions occur, the hallucinations can be both striking and terrifying.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "occur" to denote events or processes happening, particularly in formal writing. For instance, "The meeting will occur on Tuesday" sounds more professional than "The meeting will happen on Tuesday."

Common error

While "occur" is grammatically correct, using it excessively in informal contexts can make your writing sound stilted. Opt for alternatives like "happen" or "come up" to maintain a natural tone in casual conversations or informal emails.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "occur" is as an intransitive verb. It signifies the taking place of an event or the presence of something. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its use in various contexts. It's often used to describe events, incidents, or phenomena.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "occur" is a versatile verb used to indicate that something happens or takes place. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. While generally considered more formal than "happen", it maintains a neutral register and is widely used in news, science, and formal business settings. When writing, use "occur" to denote events or processes, especially in formal contexts, but be mindful of overusing it in informal conversations. Alternatives like "happen", "take place", and "arise" can provide variety and maintain a natural tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take place

Emphasizes a scheduled or planned event happening.

happen

A general term for something coming to pass; less formal.

come about

Suggests how something happened or the circumstances of its occurrence.

arise

Implies that something emerges or comes into being, often unexpectedly.

transpire

A more formal way of saying "happen", sometimes implying secrecy or discovery.

materialize

Indicates that something becomes real or visible, often after a period of planning or anticipation.

befall

Suggests something happening to someone, often something negative or unfortunate.

ensue

Indicates that something follows as a consequence or result.

fall out

Emphasizes the result or consequence of something, often unplanned.

present itself

Suggests an opportunity or situation becoming available.

FAQs

How can I use "occur" in a sentence?

Use "occur" to indicate that something happens or takes place, as in "The accident "occurred" due to icy conditions".

What can I say instead of "occur"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "happen", "take place", or "arise".

Is it correct to say "occur" instead of "happen"?

Both "occur" and "happen" are correct, but "occur" is generally considered more formal. Use "happen" in informal settings and "occur" in more formal or professional contexts.

What's the difference between "occur" and "arise"?

"Occur" generally means to take place, while "arise" often implies that something emerges or comes into being, particularly unexpectedly. For example, "Problems "arise" when communication is poor."