the matter occurred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the matter occurred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an event or situation that took place, often in a formal or legal context. Example: "The investigation revealed that the matter occurred on the night of the incident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Dr. Wyne has said that the matter occurred seven years ago and was a reflection of "problems in documenting a few things".

The New York Times

Helen Jones, 32, is a former PC with the Merseyside Police, although she was off-duty when the matter occurred as she was taking a career break.

Independent

But not much aggressive investigation of the matter occurred until recently, maybe because the mayor and his wife made no hypocritical pretense about their marriage and journalists granted them a modicum of privacy.

The New York Times

A good example of her inaction in the matter occurred back in February, during the 60-day legislative session.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"After this matter occurred, the newspaper adopted an unsuitable method of handling it, greatly harming public confidence in the media," the newspaper said in its apology.

The New York Times

The last written correspondence from Grassley's offices to us with respect to this matter occurred in September 2006.

HuffPost

It is impossible, however, without reading the testimony at some length, and thereby obtaining a knowledge of the setting in which the objectionable matter occurred, to appreciate fully the extent of the misconduct.

Cornell University

It is also noteworthy that the loss of gray matter occurred in brain areas responsible for memory and learning.

Huffington Post

This modeling allowed us to compute the relative maturational delays between the bundles, confirming that the most dramatic changes in the white matter occur during the first post-natal year, with a total relative maturational delay of 49 weeks between the most and the least mature bundles.

Brain Structure and Function

This would explain the spectral change in Figure 4C, where the thermal and photo decomposition of the organic matter occurs simultaneously at the beginning of the Au loading process; thus, the Au reduction rate is slightly increased.

Nanoscale Research Letters

This would further help in evaluating the distribution and chemical character of the mineral matter occurring within the maceral types.

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase to maintain a neutral and detached tone when describing sensitive or controversial events.

Common error

Avoid using "the matter occurred" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "it happened" or "the event took place" are more appropriate for everyday language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the matter occurred" functions as a statement indicating that a specific event or situation has taken place. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is deemed correct and usable in written English. It is used to denote the happening of something, often in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the matter occurred" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, primarily employed in formal and neutral contexts such as news reporting, scientific literature, and academic writing. According to Ludwig, it serves to objectively state that an event or situation has taken place, maintaining a detached tone. Although the phrase is valid, simpler alternatives may be more suitable for informal communication. While authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Washington Post use this expression, it remains relatively rare overall.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the incident happened

Replaces 'matter' with 'incident' and 'occurred' with 'happened', offering a more straightforward description of an event.

the event transpired

Substitutes 'matter' with 'event' and 'occurred' with 'transpired', adding a slightly more formal tone.

the situation arose

Replaces the entire phrase, focusing on the emergence of a situation rather than a specific event.

the issue emerged

Similar to 'the situation arose', but specifically highlights the emergence of a problem or issue.

the affair took place

Replaces 'matter' with 'affair' and 'occurred' with 'took place', often implying a more serious or scandalous event.

the episode unfolded

Uses 'episode' instead of 'matter' and 'unfolded' instead of 'occurred', emphasizing the progression of events.

the circumstance developed

Focuses on the gradual development of a specific set of circumstances.

the problem presented itself

Highlights the appearance of a problem, shifting the focus from the event itself.

the fact came to pass

Replaces 'matter' with 'fact' and 'occurred' with 'came to pass', giving more emphasis on the reality of the event.

the development materialized

Emphasizes the realization or actualization of a specific development or unfolding.

FAQs

What does "the matter occurred" mean?

The phrase "the matter occurred" is a formal way of saying that an event, incident, or situation took place. It is often used in official or legal contexts.

What can I say instead of "the matter occurred"?

You can use alternatives like "the incident happened", "the event transpired", or "the situation arose" depending on the context.

Is "the matter occurred" formal or informal?

The phrase "the matter occurred" is considered formal. It is best suited for official reports, legal documents, or other situations where a neutral and objective tone is required.

When is it appropriate to use "the matter occurred"?

It is appropriate to use "the matter occurred" when you need to describe a past event in a formal, objective, and somewhat detached manner. It's suitable for legal, official, or investigative contexts.