this often happens

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this often happens" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a particular event or situation occurs frequently or regularly. Example: "In our line of work, this often happens when deadlines are tight and stress levels are high."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This often happens inside enterprise companies.

Harvard Business Review

This often happens in pigs and birds.

The New York Times

This often happens with Mexican films.

The New York Times

This often happens over coffee, in a no-judgment, evaluation-free climate.

Yale University

"This often happens because they didn't realize that they weren't making joint decisions".

The New York Times

Intriguingly, this often happens with information that we know we know.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This often happens in industries characterized by excess supply, cutthroat competition, and low profit margins.

Harvard Business Review

This often happens to executives, as psychoanalyst Michael Maccoby points out.

Harvard Business Review

This often happens over the course of a long campaign, although few have seemed as long as this one.

The New York Times

This often happens in agitated tanks entirely baffled equipped with impellers which generate circulations which depend on the hydrodynamic regime - laminar or turbulent.

Chemical Engineering Science

This often happens when it is freely passing (drifting) through the atmosphere and encountering a fair number of such deficient repeat orbits.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this often happens" to introduce a situation that readers can easily relate to based on prior knowledge or common sense. It sets the stage for further explanation or analysis.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "this often happens". It can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure and use synonyms like "this frequently occurs" or "this commonly occurs" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this often happens" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the frequency of an event. It provides context by suggesting that a particular situation occurs regularly, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

23%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this often happens" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that something occurs frequently. Ludwig's analysis confirms its versatility across various contexts, from news and media to academic and scientific writing. While the phrase is generally neutral, it's important to avoid overuse to maintain engagement. Alternatives like "this frequently occurs" and "this commonly occurs" can add variety. As highlighted by Ludwig, the phrase serves to introduce familiar scenarios, creating a relatable and informative tone. Keep in mind, "this often happens" is a versatile idiom and you can use it without fear of sounding awkward or non-native.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this frequently occurs

Replaces 'often' with 'frequently', suggesting a high rate of occurrence.

this commonly occurs

Uses 'commonly' instead of 'often', indicating widespread occurrence.

this regularly happens

Substitutes 'often' with 'regularly', emphasizing the consistent nature of the event.

this generally occurs

Replaces 'often' with 'generally', suggesting that it happens in most cases.

this usually happens

Uses 'usually' instead of 'often', implying that it is the normal course of events.

this is a common occurrence

Restructures the phrase to emphasize the event's commonality as a noun phrase.

it's a frequent event

Changes to 'it's' and uses 'frequent event' instead of 'often happens', slightly altering the sentence structure.

it's typical for this to happen

Expresses the same idea using a 'typical' scenario, making it slightly more descriptive.

such instances are common

Shifts to a more formal tone by using 'such instances' and 'common'.

this is a routine occurrence

Replaces 'often happens' with 'routine occurrence', indicating that it is a standard and expected event.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "this often happens" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, you can use alternatives such as ""this frequently occurs"", ""this commonly occurs"", or "such instances are common".

Is "this often happens" grammatically correct?

Yes, "this often happens" is grammatically correct. The word "often" is an adverb modifying the verb "happens".

What does "this often happens" mean?

The phrase "this often happens" means that a particular event or situation occurs frequently or regularly.

What are some other ways to express that something happens frequently?

Besides "this often happens", you could say "this regularly happens", "this usually happens", or "it's typical for this to happen" depending on the nuance you want to convey.