spate of attacks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'spate of attacks' is correct and is commonly used in written English.
It implies a sudden series or burst of violent or hostile events. For example: "The city was facing a spate of attacks on its police force last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Guards have been posted at schools across China after a spate of attacks in recent years.

The New York Times

A spate of attacks wrought familiar scenes of grief and bloodshed.

The New York Times

His anti-terror squad has successfully curtailed jihadist violence since a spate of attacks in 2003.

The Economist

Even the authorities were not sure how best to respond to the spate of attacks.

The New York Times

After Badreddine was sentenced, Mughniyah launched a spate of attacks to pressure Kuwait to free him.

The New Yorker

But a spate of attacks a decade ago reinforced the notion of them as bloodthirsty man-eaters.

The Guardian

Perhaps, the official speculated, the recent spate of attacks against the Army by Islamists would force a reëvaluation.

The New Yorker

The shootings were the latest in a spate of attacks by Afghan forces on their coalition counterparts.

The New York Times

China experienced a spate of attacks on schoolchildren in 2010, with almost 20 deaths and more than 50 injuries.

The New York Times

American officials increased pressure on Iraqis to clamp down after the spate of attacks in June, and Iraq eventually responded.

The New York Times

In apparent retaliation, militants launched a spate of attacks that ranged from homemade explosive devices to suicide attacks.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "spate of attacks", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes an "attack". This could range from physical assaults to cyber intrusions.

Common error

Avoid using adjectives that are already implied in the meaning of "spate". For example, saying "recent spate of attacks" is often redundant, as "spate" already implies a recent occurrence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spate of attacks" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a sudden and relatively large number of attacks occurring within a short period. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spate of attacks" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, to describe a sudden increase in the occurrence of attacks. It is primarily found in news and media contexts, carrying a neutral to formal tone. When employing this phrase, ensure the nature of the "attacks" is well-defined and avoid redundant adjectives. Consider alternatives like "series of assaults" or "outbreak of violence" depending on the specific context you intend to convey. The phrase serves to inform and often raise concern about heightened threat levels.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

series of assaults

Focuses on the sequential nature of the attacks, emphasizing individual instances within the larger sequence.

wave of aggression

Implies a broad and sweeping nature to the attacks, suggesting a widespread phenomenon.

outbreak of violence

Highlights the sudden and unexpected eruption of violent acts.

rash of hostilities

Emphasizes the sudden and unwelcome appearance of hostile actions.

surge of offenses

Suggests a sudden increase in the number of offensive actions.

cluster of incidents

Draws attention to the grouping together of multiple related events.

flurry of strikes

Conveys a sense of rapid and intense activity, suggesting a concentrated period of attacks.

succession of raids

Highlights the sequential nature of the attacks, emphasizing their planned or military character.

chain of onslaughts

Emphasizes a sequence of aggressive or destructive attacks.

sequence of violent events

Offers a more general description of multiple violent occurrences in a row.

FAQs

How to use "spate of attacks" in a sentence?

You can use "spate of attacks" to describe a sudden series of hostile actions. For example, "The city experienced a "spate of attacks" on its infrastructure last month".

What can I say instead of "spate of attacks"?

You can use alternatives like "series of assaults", "outbreak of violence", or "wave of aggression" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a recent spate of attacks"?

While commonly used, "recent spate of attacks" can be considered slightly redundant, as "spate" already implies a recent occurrence. Consider just using ""spate of attacks"" for conciseness.

What is the difference between "spate of attacks" and "isolated attacks"?

"Spate of attacks" suggests multiple related incidents occurring closely together, while "isolated attacks" refers to individual, unconnected incidents.