occur to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "occur to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express the idea of a thought or idea coming to someone's mind. Example: "It didn't occur to me that she might be feeling unwell until she mentioned it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Did not occur to me.

The New York Times

"This does occur to people".

The New York Times

It didn't even occur to me".

The Guardian - Travel

It just didn't occur to me.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Honestly, that didn't even occur to me.

The New Yorker

"Racism just didn't occur to me".

The New York Times

"It didn't occur to me," she said.

The Guardian

Two things occur to me watching it.

The Guardian

"That did not occur to me.

The New York Times

This shows problems can occur to anyone".

The New York Times

"It just didn't occur to us.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "occur to" to express a thought or idea that comes to someone unexpectedly or spontaneously. It's suitable for both formal and informal writing.

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary prepositions after "occur". The correct form is "occur to someone", not "occur for someone" or "occur with someone".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "occur to" functions as a connector of thought, linking an idea or realization to a person. It indicates that something has come to someone's mind, often unexpectedly. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "occur to" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression for indicating that a thought or idea has come to someone's mind. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, as per Ludwig's examples, it serves to convey sudden realizations or unexpected thoughts. While versatile, it's crucial to avoid incorrect preposition usage, sticking to the "occur to someone" structure. Alternatives such as "come to mind" or "cross one's mind" offer subtle variations in meaning, as explained earlier. All in all, "occur to" is a reliable and effective phrase for expressing the arrival of a thought.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cross one's mind

More idiomatic and implies a brief or fleeting thought.

come to mind

A common and neutral alternative, suggesting a thought appearing in consciousness.

dawn on someone

Suggests a gradual realization or understanding.

strike someone

Implies a sudden or forceful realization.

enter one's head

A more literal way of saying a thought appeared.

spring to mind

Similar to 'come to mind', but may imply spontaneity.

register with someone

Focuses on the idea being noticed or understood.

hit someone

Similar to 'strike someone', suggesting a forceful realization.

present itself

More formal, suggesting an idea appearing for consideration.

become apparent

Highlights the idea becoming clear or obvious.

FAQs

How can I use "occur to" in a sentence?

You can use "occur to" to indicate that a thought or idea has come to someone's mind unexpectedly. For example, "It didn't "occur to" me to check the weather before leaving".

What is a synonym for "occur to"?

A synonym for "occur to" is "come to mind". You could say, "The solution "came to mind" suddenly" instead of "The solution "occurred to" me suddenly".

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

No, the correct phrasing is ""occur to"". Saying "occur for" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between ""occur to"" and "realize"?

"Occur to" implies that a thought suddenly comes to mind, while "realize" suggests a gradual understanding or awareness of something.