there occur

USAGE SUMMARY

"there occur" is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used as an alternative to the phrase "there happens". For example, "There occur many changes during childhood development."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

In man there occur two rare conditions that, according to recent evidence, represent partial sex reversal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To the south of Farafangana the coast becomes rocky, and in the southeast there occur many little bays.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In certain parts of the delta there occur layers of peat, composed of the remains of forest vegetation and rice plants.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The same sort of change occurred in one Italian dialect: in Tuscan, there occur porta "door," la forta "the door," tre porte "three doors," from Latin porta, illa porta, tres portae.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In addition, the greater the involvement of directors in the day-to-day management of the company, the more difficult it will be (should there occur in the course of such management an adverse event that results in a stockholder suit) for those directors to use their reliance on the relevant corporate officers as a basis to avoid personal liability.

Harvard University

It is noteworthy that in all these separate locations, there occur different biochemical reactions, which are not however excluded from the intracellular mass transfer.

Chemistry Central Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

LAST year there occurred a minor miracle.

The Economist

But, in its own category, there occurred the Fateful Day.

The New York Times

The most dramatic changes there occurred in the last 30 years of the 20th century.

The New York Times

Between Harding's death and funeral, there occurs this one-sentence paragraph: "I issued the usual proclamation".

The New Yorker

The last major outbreak of the disease there occurred in 1884.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there occur" in formal writing and scientific contexts to maintain an objective and impersonal tone.

Common error

Avoid using "there occur" in casual conversation or informal writing; simpler phrases like "things happen" or "events take place" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there occur" functions as an existential construction, indicating the existence or happening of something. It's typically followed by a plural noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms this with its analysis of usage examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

Encyclopedias

24%

News & Media

24%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there occur" is a grammatically correct phrase used to introduce the existence or happening of something, primarily in formal and scientific writing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as an existential construction, presenting facts objectively. While common, it should be used judiciously, avoiding overuse in informal contexts where simpler alternatives are more appropriate. Authoritative sources like Encyclopedia Britannica and The New York Times demonstrate its proper usage across diverse contexts. Remember to use "there occur" with plural nouns and reserve it for situations where you want to emphasize the occurrence of an event or process rather than simple existence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

events transpire

Replaces "occur" with "transpire", focusing on the unfolding of events.

incidents arise

Substitutes "occur" with "arise", suggesting that the incidents emerge or come into existence.

situations develop

Replaces "occur" with "develop", highlighting the evolution of situations.

happenings unfold

Uses "happenings" instead of a general "there" structure and replaces "occur" with "unfold", emphasizing a process.

instances materialize

Uses "materialize" instead of "occur", giving the sense of becoming real or apparent.

developments take place

Emphasizes "developments" and uses "take place" instead of "occur", indicating a specific location or timeframe.

circumstances come about

Highlights "circumstances" and replaces "occur" with "come about", focusing on how things came to be.

things transpire

Emphasizes the informal term "things" and replaces "occur" with "transpire".

events come to pass

Replaces "occur" with the more formal and somewhat archaic "come to pass", emphasizing a sense of inevitability or destiny.

phenomena are observed

Focuses on "phenomena" and uses "are observed" instead of "occur", highlighting the act of observation.

FAQs

How can I use "there occur" in a sentence?

Use "there occur" to introduce the existence or happening of something, typically in a formal or scientific context. For example, "There occur many changes during the experiment".

What are some alternatives to "there occur"?

You can use alternatives like "events transpire", "happenings unfold", or "incidents arise" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "there occur" or "there occurs"?

"There occur" is used with plural nouns, while "there occurs" is used with singular nouns. For example, "There occur many problems" vs. "There occurs a problem".

What's the difference between "there occur" and "there are"?

"There are" indicates simple existence, whereas "there occur" suggests an event or process is happening. "There are many trees" simply states existence, while "There occur changes in the forest" implies a dynamic process.