there are irregularities

USAGE SUMMARY

'there are irregularities' is a perfectly correct sentence in written English.
You can use it to describe any situation where something is not quite regular, following an expected pattern or procedure. For example, "There are irregularities in the results of the election which require further investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

In Donna's art there are irregularities that reveal the touch of the human hand".

The New York Times - Arts

"So what's going on?" "There are irregularities in your head".

The New Yorker

If there are irregularities, scientists can say, "Oh, this happened," and they can tell when it happened because of the rings.

The New York Times - Sports

If there are irregularities at the interface between the light and dense matter, some of the dense matter in time falls out of the cloud.

The New York Times - Science

Stein claims there are irregularities in results reported by Wisconsin as well as Michigan and Pennsylvania, where she plans to request recounts next week, having raised millions of dollars from supporters.

The Guardian

My bottom line up front: Trump is right; there are irregularities in the American campaign and electoral process that require reform, but they are not the ones Trump usually cites.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

But he concluded: "Without question there were irregularities relative to the requests for absentee ballots.

The New York Times

Houllier's lawyer Jean-Claude Guidicelli said on Wednesday that the court had ruled there were "irregularities" in the former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United player's case.

The Guardian - Sport

In response to legal challenges by Mr López Obrador, a populist who claims to champion the poor, the tribunal ordered a recount of votes from 9% of polling stations where it decided there were irregularities.

The Economist

Some senior Democrats are known to be reluctant to suggest there were irregularities in the result because Clinton and her team criticised Trump so sharply during the campaign for claiming that the election would be "rigged" against him.

The Guardian

Some shareholders feel there were irregularities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there are irregularities", be specific about what kind of irregularities you're referring to in subsequent sentences. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "there are irregularities" as a standalone statement without providing further details or context. This can leave the reader confused and unsure about the nature and scope of the irregularities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there are irregularities" functions as an existential clause, asserting the presence of deviations from what is standard, expected, or correct. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there are irregularities" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate the presence of deviations from the norm. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. While relatively neutral in register, it is best practice to follow this phrase with specific details about the irregularities to ensure clarity. Considering similar phrases, "irregularities exist" and "discrepancies exist" can serve as concise alternatives, while in more informal settings, "something is amiss" might be fitting. This analysis underscores the importance of context and clarity when employing this phrase in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

irregularities exist

This alternative is a more concise way of stating the same idea, focusing on the existence of irregularities.

there are discrepancies present

This alternative replaces "irregularities" with "discrepancies", highlighting differences or inconsistencies.

inconsistencies can be found

This alternative emphasizes "inconsistencies", suggesting a lack of uniformity or agreement.

anomalies are present

This alternative replaces "irregularities" with "anomalies", highlighting deviations from the expected.

issues are apparent

This alternative is broader, using "issues" to encompass irregularities, suggesting problems are visible.

deviations are noted

This alternative uses "deviations" to point out departures from the standard or expected.

problems have surfaced

This alternative uses "problems" instead of "irregularities", indicating that difficulties have come to light.

errors have been identified

This alternative specifies "errors", suggesting mistakes have been found.

something is amiss

This is a more informal way to say that something is wrong or out of place.

things are not in order

This phrase conveys that something is disorganized or incorrect.

FAQs

How can I use "there are irregularities" in a sentence?

You can use "there are irregularities" to introduce a situation where something deviates from the norm. For example, "There are irregularities in the financial reports that require a thorough audit."

What's a more formal way to say "there are irregularities"?

A more formal alternative to "there are irregularities" could be "discrepancies exist" or "anomalies are present" depending on the specific context.

What can I say instead of "there are irregularities" in an informal context?

In a more informal context, you might say "something is amiss" or "things are not in order".

Is it better to use "there are irregularities" or "irregularities exist"?

Both "there are irregularities" and "irregularities exist" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on your preferred style and the context. "Irregularities exist" is more concise.