there has been a pattern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there has been a pattern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a consistent trend or behavior has been observed over a period of time. Example: "In recent months, there has been a pattern of increased customer complaints regarding product quality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

In recent years there has been a pattern of reform & repression, relaxation & reaction, thaw & freeze.

The New Yorker

mike selvey (@selvecricket) There has been a pattern to this for England.

The Guardian - Sport

But there has been a pattern of continuous destruction none the less.

The Guardian

There has been a pattern to them: initial excitement about meeting old friends/not friends again.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Whenever there is a bottleneck in national politics, there has been a pattern," he said.

The New York Times

"So there has been a pattern of hope and disappointment, hype and almost battling between subjects, families and researchers".

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Shortly after turning over these records, the city conceded that there had been a "pattern and practice of strip-searches".

The New York Times

He noted that the Swedish military in its press conference had stressed that it was not just one incident but that there had been a pattern of increased activity by an unnamed foreign country in the area.

The Guardian

In ruling, the arbitrators decided that the statistical evidence proved that there had been a pattern and practice of discrimination against women in Merrill's brokerage operation -- the first such finding against a Wall Street firm.

The New York Times

Mr. Reiter, who has for years received his medical care at Mayo when possible, says he believes there has been a longstanding pattern on Aetna's part to not pay its fair share of his out-of-network care.

The New York Times

In the United Kingdom there has been a long term pattern of increases in children's emergency admissions and a substantial increase in short stay unplanned admissions.

BMC Pediatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "there has been a pattern", ensure that you can provide evidence or examples to support your claim. This strengthens the credibility of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "there has been a pattern" to describe isolated incidents. A true pattern requires multiple occurrences and a discernible trend.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there has been a pattern" serves as an existential construction indicating the recognition or observation of a recurring sequence or trend. It is frequently used to introduce an observation about repeated behavior or events, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there has been a pattern" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to indicate the recognition of a recurring trend or sequence of events. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts, with a strong presence in News & Media. When using this phrase, ensure that your claim is supported by evidence to enhance credibility. Ludwig's analysis shows that avoiding generalizations and providing specific examples will strengthen your writing. Consider alternatives like "a trend has emerged" for a more concise or formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a trend has emerged

Changes the structure to emphasize the trend itself becoming apparent.

a consistent trend is evident

Replaces "pattern" with "trend" and uses "evident" to highlight the clarity of the trend.

a recurring theme is noticeable

Substitutes "pattern" with "theme", suggesting a less statistically rigorous observation.

a repeated occurrence is observed

Focuses on the repetition of events rather than an abstract pattern.

developments have taken the same course

Emphasizes how events have followed a predictable route.

events have followed a similar vein

Uses a metaphor to describe events aligning with one another.

there's a familiar ring to it

An idiom that suggests a sense of deja vu or predictable recurrence.

history repeats itself

A more concise idiom expressing the cyclical nature of events.

that's how it usually goes

An informal way of pointing out a frequent or established outcome.

this keeps happening

Highlights the repetition of events, often with a sense of frustration.

FAQs

How can I use "there has been a pattern" in a sentence?

You can use "there has been a pattern" to describe repeated occurrences or trends. For example, "There has been a pattern of late deliveries this month".

What is a more formal alternative to "there has been a pattern"?

More formal alternatives include "a trend has emerged" or "a consistent pattern has developed".

Is "there's been a pattern" the same as "there has been a pattern"?

Yes, "there's been a pattern" is a contraction of "there has been a pattern" and carries the same meaning.

Can "there has been a pattern" be used to describe a single event?

No, "there has been a pattern" implies multiple occurrences forming a trend. A single event cannot constitute a pattern.