recur

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "recur" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an intransitive verb meaning "to happen or appear again", or "to happen or appear repeatedly or on a regular basis". For example, "The symptoms of her illness recurred every other month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is therefore important that the president does not unnecessarily rush in his engagement with it, but considers it comprehensively and carefully to ensure appropriate measures are taken to ensure that the tragic events at Marikana do not recur".

The Guardian

Likewise, it wouldn't be terribly surprising if feedback from how your clothes or lack of clothes feel might be guiding the way in which some of these dreams recur".

The Guardian - Opinion

If you have not thought about how to fill that time productively, the chances are high that your difficulties will recur.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And although the conditions that gave rise to the strike will never recur in that form, its lessons and example will be an inspiration long into the future.

The Guardian

It's true that Wall Street banks are less risky animals than they once were; they have much more capital on their books, meaning that big missteps like those that led up to the financial crisis of 2008 are less likely to recur.

The Guardian - Money

A handful of problems recur, killing off the best experiments:.

The Economist

The proof of the 70-gene marker came when Dr Friend tested it against a fresh batch of 19 tumour samples, and tried to classify them according to whether the disease was likely to recur within five years or not.

The Economist

This was a classic example of counting your chickens before they are hatched.These circumstances will not soon recur.

The Economist

Christianity, for instance, to recur to our primary illustration, was not promulgated until the "fulness of time;" and some of the greatest of those inventions which have blessed the human race have been, as it were, purposely retarded until the world had been prepared for it.

The Economist

Poems about nature, the graceful swoop of birds in flight and the delightful "quiet of an English wood" recur throughout the collection.

The Economist

Just as Stalin benefited by being an anti-fascist, Hitler exploited Soviet Russia's association with the idea of world revolution, painting Jews and Bolsheviks alike as internationalist threats.Such circumstantial explanations are comforting, for they suggest that in the absence of similarly extreme circumstances such regimes will not recur.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "recur", ensure the context clearly establishes what is reappearing or happening again. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

A common mistake is using the wrong tense with "recur". Ensure the tense matches the timeline of the event; for example, use past tense ("recurred") for events that have already happened and future tense ("will recur") for events expected to happen.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "recur" is as an intransitive verb, indicating that something happens again or repeatedly. As Ludwig AI indicates, it denotes recurrence or repetition of an event or idea. The provided examples showcase its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "recur" is a versatile intransitive verb used to describe the repetition or reappearance of events, themes, or problems. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and Ludwig's examples show its widespread usage, particularly in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in formality, it's crucial to use the correct tense to maintain clarity. Remember, when writing, clearly establish what is reappearing to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

happen again

Focuses on the event repeating itself.

repeat itself

Emphasizes the self-repeating nature of the event.

return

Highlights the act of coming back or appearing again.

reappear

Stresses the visual aspect of something showing up again.

come back

Indicates a return, often after an absence.

crop up again

Suggests a less predictable or more spontaneous reappearance.

surface again

Implies something hidden becoming visible once more.

show up again

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the return.

be repeated

Highlights the passive aspect of something being done again.

reiterate

Involves explicitly stating something once more, rather than an event happening again.

FAQs

How can I use "recur" in a sentence?

You can use "recur" to describe events or phenomena that happen again. For example, "The issue is likely to recur if the root cause is not addressed."

What are some synonyms for "recur"?

Alternatives to "recur" include "happen again", "repeat itself", and "return". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "reoccur" instead of "recur"?

While "reoccur" is sometimes used, "recur" is generally preferred in formal writing and is more widely accepted. They both essentially mean the same thing: to happen again.

What's the difference between "recur" and "repeat"?

"Recur" implies a return or reappearance, often after an interval, while "repeat" simply means to do something again. For example, a theme might "recur" throughout a book, while you might "repeat" a phrase for emphasis.