things that happened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "things that happened" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it any time you'd like to refer to events of the past. For example, "I've been reflecting on things that happened this past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There are two things that happened.

Yale University

Two things that happened in 2012.

The Guardian

A chronology of some things that happened.

The Washington Post

Two things that happened on Wednesday morning.

The Guardian

Here are some other things that happened.

The New York Times - Tech

"I remember nice things that happened.

The New York Times

"The things that happened were so disappointing.

The Guardian - Sport

I list all the things that happened.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"There's so many things that happened.

The Guardian - Film

"There were two nice things that happened.

The Guardian

Those are the things that happened.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When recounting a series of events, use "things that happened" to introduce a summary or overview before delving into specifics. For example, "Before we discuss the implications, let's recap the things that happened leading up to this decision."

Common error

Avoid using "things that happened" excessively in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and descriptive alternatives like "events that transpired" or "occurrences that took place" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things that happened" functions as a relative clause acting as a noun phrase, referring to events of the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound way to generally allude to past occurrences. It often serves as a general subject or object within a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

13%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "things that happened" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to refer to past events. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is suitable for general use, particularly in news, media, and informal contexts. However, for more formal or academic writing, alternatives like "events that transpired" or "occurrences that took place" might be more appropriate. The phrase is frequently used to summarize or introduce a series of past actions, providing context or setting the stage for further discussion. While its straightforward nature makes it versatile, being mindful of the audience and context is essential for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

events that transpired

Replaces "things" with "events" and "happened" with "transpired", indicating a more formal and detailed account.

occurrences that took place

Substitutes "things" with "occurrences" and uses the phrase "took place" for "happened", emphasizing the act of occurring.

incidents that occurred

Replaces "things" with "incidents", suggesting a focus on specific, and possibly notable, events.

developments that unfolded

Uses "developments" instead of "things" and "unfolded" for "happened", implying a gradual revelation or progression of events.

circumstances that arose

Replaces "things" with "circumstances" and "happened" with "arose", focusing on the conditions or situations that came into being.

matters that came about

Employs "matters" in place of "things" and uses the phrasal verb "came about" instead of "happened", suggesting a process of emergence.

facts that emerged

Substitutes "things" with "facts" and "happened" with "emerged", emphasizing the surfacing or becoming known of specific details.

situations that presented themselves

Uses "situations" for "things" and "presented themselves" for "happened", focusing on the appearance or manifestation of specific conditions.

experiences that unfolded

Replaces "things" with "experiences" and uses "unfolded" for "happened", focusing on the personal or subjective aspect of the events.

actions that were carried out

Replaces "things" with "actions" and uses "were carried out" for "happened", emphasizing the performance or execution of specific tasks or activities.

FAQs

How can I use "things that happened" in a sentence?

You can use "things that happened" to refer to past events, such as "I've been reflecting on the "things that happened" this year" or "Let's discuss the "things that happened" during the meeting".

What can I say instead of "things that happened"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "events that transpired", "occurrences that took place", or "incidents that occurred".

Is "things that happened" too informal for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "things that happened" might be considered informal for academic writing. Consider using more formal alternatives such as "developments that unfolded" or "circumstances that arose" to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "things that happened" and "what happened"?

"What happened" is a direct question or a concise way to inquire about an event, while ""things that happened"" is a broader phrase used to refer to a collection or series of events.