the explosion occurred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'the explosion occurred' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a specific time when an explosion happened. For example, "The explosion occurred at 8:00 am this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The explosion occurred at a warehouse for explosive and dangerous goods.

Independent

The explosion occurred as a civilian vehicle drove over an improvised explosive planted along the road.

Los Angeles Times

"After that, the explosion occurred".

The New York Times

The explosion occurred at about 6 p.m.

The New York Times

The explosion occurred about 11 30 a.m.

The New York Times

The explosion occurred just 15 minutes earlier.

The New York Times

The slender building where the explosion occurred was almost windowless.

The New York Times

The explosion occurred seconds later, the mayor added.

The New York Times

"They were preparing for an attack but the explosion occurred".

The Guardian

The explosion occurred at about 6 45 a.m.

The New York Times

That's when the explosion occurred, shooting flames across the gap that ignited Mr. Scandariato's clothing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on incidents, use "the explosion occurred" to clearly and directly state when the explosion happened, ensuring clarity for your audience. Replace passive constructions with active voice for clearer more impactful communication.

Common error

Avoid vague time references when using "the explosion occurred". Instead of saying "the explosion occurred recently", specify the date and time for clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the explosion occurred" functions as a statement of fact, indicating that an explosion took place. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound and common expression used to report an event. Examples show it used in news reports and factual accounts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the explosion occurred" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to indicate that an explosion took place. As Ludwig AI points out, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and factual reporting. The primary function is to state a fact, conveying information about a past event. The register is generally neutral, making it appropriate for professional communication. For clarity, it's best to avoid vague time references and to specify the date and time when possible. Alternatives include "the blast took place" or "an explosion happened", depending on the context and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the blast took place

Replaces "explosion occurred" with "blast took place", changing the noun and verb while retaining the core meaning of an event happening.

the detonation happened

Substitutes "explosion occurred" with "detonation happened", focusing on the act of detonating and replacing both the noun and verb.

an explosion happened

Reorders the phrase and uses "happened" instead of "occurred", making it slightly more informal but maintaining the same core meaning.

the incident involved an explosion

Changes the sentence structure to focus on an incident involving an explosion, altering the emphasis but retaining the core information.

the explosion was triggered

Shifts the focus to the cause of the explosion, using "was triggered" instead of "occurred" to highlight the triggering event.

the blast was initiated

Replaces "explosion occurred" with "blast was initiated", altering the vocabulary to emphasize the start of the explosion.

an explosive event transpired

Uses more formal language, replacing "explosion" with "explosive event" and "occurred" with "transpired".

the catastrophic event unfolded

Broadens the description to a catastrophic event, adding more drama and using "unfolded" instead of "occurred".

the earth shook with the explosion

Emphasizes the impact of the explosion, focusing on the physical sensation and using more descriptive language.

a violent eruption ensued

Replaces "explosion" with "violent eruption" and "occurred" with "ensued", changing the vocabulary to suggest a more sudden and forceful event.

FAQs

How can I use "the explosion occurred" in a sentence?

You can use "the explosion occurred" to describe when an explosion took place, for instance, "The explosion occurred last night" or "The explosion occurred during the demonstration".

What are some alternatives to "the explosion occurred"?

Alternatives include phrases like "the blast took place", "the detonation happened", or simply "an explosion happened", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "the explosion occurred" or "an explosion occurred"?

Both "the explosion occurred" and "an explosion occurred" are grammatically correct. "The explosion occurred" typically refers to a specific, already known explosion, while "an explosion occurred" introduces a new or unspecified explosion.

What's the difference between "the explosion occurred" and "the explosion was triggered"?

"The explosion occurred" simply states that the explosion happened. "The explosion was triggered", on the other hand, focuses on the event or action that caused the explosion.