stroke of good luck

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stroke of good luck" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an unexpected and fortunate event or occurrence that brings about a positive outcome. Example: "Winning the lottery was a stroke of good luck that changed my life forever."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

That proved a stroke of good luck.

The New York Times

And that would be a stroke of good luck for all of us.

The New York Times

"It was an amazing stroke of good luck," said Superintendent François Cerdan, who led the divers.

The New York Times - Books

That was when a stroke of good luck — and good light — changed his fortunes.

The New York Times

"We can look upon it now as a stroke of good luck," he said.

Independent

After this stroke of good luck, eventually Tom became my Ph.D. thesis supervisor, for which I will always be grateful.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Sometimes all a detective needs to crack a case is a stroke of good luck--like finding a fingerprint in the right place.

Science Magazine

The whole thing is so downright Dickensian, and involves as many strokes of good luck as bad, that it's not exactly as though Saroo's success reuniting with lost love ones can be scaled.

MIT Technology Review

The hall has also had some strokes of good luck in these concerts: a few years ago, Aaron Jay Kernis's Second Quartet won a Pulitzer a few months after it had its premiere on the series.

The New York Times

"We had a couple of strokes of good luck," says ocean scientist Nicholas Makris of MIT's Laboratory for Undersea Remote Sensing.

Science Magazine

In what scientists described as a double-stroke of good luck, the antennas were able to convert the density of surrounding space plasma into audio signals — along with the help of two immense and well-timed solar flares.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stroke of good luck" to emphasize the unexpected and sudden nature of a positive event. It's particularly effective when describing how an unforeseen circumstance led to a favorable outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "stroke of good luck" when the positive outcome is primarily due to skill, planning, or sustained effort. The phrase is best reserved for situations where luck played a significant role.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stroke of good luck" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or object in a sentence. According to Ludwig, it's used to describe an unexpected and fortunate event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stroke of good luck" is a commonly used phrase to describe an unexpected and positive event. It's grammatically correct and appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's essential to use it appropriately, reserving it for situations where luck genuinely plays a significant role, not for outcomes solely based on skill or effort. More formal alternatives like "fortunate turn of events" may be more suitable in certain settings. The phrase's neutral register makes it versatile, but awareness of its connotations ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lucky break

A more informal way of saying "stroke of good luck", implying a sudden and unexpected benefit.

fortunate turn of events

This alternative emphasizes the positive outcome resulting from a series of events.

happy accident

Highlights the accidental nature of the positive event.

piece of serendipity

This phrase suggests that the good luck was found by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

advantageous coincidence

Highlights the coincidental and beneficial nature of the event.

windfall

Refers to an unexpected and substantial gain or advantage.

godsend

Suggests that the good luck was a divine or very welcome intervention.

favorable circumstances

This phrase emphasizes the positive set of conditions that led to a beneficial result.

fluke

Implies that the good luck was entirely accidental and unlikely to be repeated.

opportune moment

Focuses on the timing of the fortunate event, suggesting it occurred at the most advantageous time.

FAQs

How can I use "stroke of good luck" in a sentence?

You can use "stroke of good luck" to describe an unexpected, positive event. For example, "Finding a rare book at a garage sale was a real "stroke of good luck"."

What's a more formal alternative to "stroke of good luck"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "fortunate turn of events" or "advantageous circumstance".

Is "stroke of good fortune" the same as "stroke of good luck"?

While similar, "stroke of good fortune" often implies a more significant or lasting benefit than ""stroke of good luck"", which can refer to smaller, more immediate instances of luck.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "stroke of good luck"?

Avoid using "stroke of good luck" when describing outcomes that are clearly the result of hard work, skill, or planning. The phrase should be reserved for situations where chance played a significant role.