such things happen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "such things happen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express acceptance or resignation regarding unexpected or unfortunate events. Example: "I was disappointed when the event was canceled, but I reminded myself that such things happen."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It seems to me it wouldn't meet even basic safety standards, if you believe in such things.9 47: "You're going to get to know these candidates a little better".

The Economist

Participants used a seven-point scale to make these ratings, where 3 indicated that they strongly agreed that he could do such things, 0 indicated that they neither agreed nor disagreed, and -3 indicated that they strongly disagreed.The results, reported in Cognition, were that the fully recovered David rated an average of 1.77 and the dead David -0.29.

The Economist

It may also be important to distinguish informal elements of a given mathematical proof from unformalizable elements (if there are any such things).[3] In Section 4, this issue will be taken up in connection with the use of diagrams in mathematical reasoning.

SEP

Get off till you pay road tax!' the most accurate answer for many (probably too verbose to deliver before the lights change) would be: 1/ There's no such thing; 2/ I own a car as well as a bike and 3/ If VED was levied on cycles I'd still pay nothing.

The Guardian

Unless there's a remarkable turnaround brewing right now — and nobody's seeing any such thing — 2012 could give us the first significant year-to-year decline in clean energy investment since Bloomberg began tracking the data in 2004: Through three quarters in 2011, clean energy investment was at $196.4 billion; year-to-date 2012, it's at $164.2.

HuffPost

Lastly, there are two new i-Function lenses for those of you interested in such things: a 20mm F/2.8 pancake and a 20-50mm F/3.5-5.6 zoom.

TechCrunch

These include such things as (1) differences or changes in diet during the exercise intervention [ 89], (2) physical activity compensation [ 65, 90], and (3) genetic factors [ 91].

BioMed Research International

Therefore Black should have moved to catch up in development with 12... beforefore undertaking any such thing as 12... cd 13 Nd4, which further increased the effectiveness of the white minor pieces.

The New York Times - Style

Similarly, most of the studies did not specify the origin of their control group other than saying such things as "681 healthy persons working or studying in the city of Gdansk" (15 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

This delightful fact comes from the Ministry of Justice, which has been keeping tabs on such things for 15 years now.

The Guardian - Opinion

As important, doing such things with 30 members of his troop had taught him how to work cooperatively.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "such things happen" to express a sense of resignation or acceptance, especially when facing minor setbacks or unexpected situations. It communicates a philosophical outlook.

Common error

While "such things happen" is acceptable, it can sound too casual in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "unforeseen circumstances arose" or "these events occurred" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "such things happen" functions as an idiomatic expression used to convey acceptance, resignation, or a philosophical outlook towards events, often unexpected or undesirable. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Wiki

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Encyclopedias

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "such things happen" is a grammatically sound and acceptable idiom used to express resignation or acceptance towards events. Ludwig AI confirms that it's usable in written English. Although versatile, it's more suited for informal or neutral contexts than formal or scientific writing. Consider alternatives like "it is what it is" or "that's life" for similar meanings. Overusing it in formal settings might sound too casual, making more professional alternatives advisable. The phrase is best employed when aiming to convey a philosophical perspective in the face of minor setbacks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's life

This alternative is a more concise and common idiom for accepting unavoidable circumstances.

it is what it is

This alternative emphasizes acceptance of a situation that cannot be changed.

these things occur

This alternative is a more formal way of stating that events, especially negative ones, are a part of life.

it happens

This alternative is a shorter, more casual way to express that certain events are inevitable.

that's the way it goes

This alternative is an idiomatic expression signifying acceptance of an outcome.

things don't always go as planned

This alternative highlights the common deviation from expectations.

unforeseen events transpire

This alternative is a formal expression denoting unexpected occurrences.

circumstances arise

This alternative points to the occurrence of particular situations, often unexpectedly.

eventualities occur

This alternative acknowledges the reality of unplanned incidents.

life is full of surprises

This alternative emphasizes the unpredictable nature of existence.

FAQs

How can I use "such things happen" in a sentence?

You can use "such things happen" to express acceptance or resignation about an unexpected or unfortunate event. For example: "I was disappointed when the event was canceled, but I reminded myself that "such things happen"".

What can I say instead of "such things happen"?

You can use alternatives like "that's life", "it is what it is", or "these things occur depending on the context".

Is "such things happen" grammatically correct?

Yes, "such things happen" is grammatically correct. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules.

When is it appropriate to use "such things happen"?

It's appropriate to use "such things happen" when you want to convey a sense of acceptance or resignation regarding a situation, especially when the situation is beyond your control. It's best suited for informal or neutral contexts.