to be expected for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be expected for" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey anticipation or predictability regarding something, but the construction is awkward. Example: "The delays in the project timeline are to be expected for a project of this scale."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This is perhaps to be expected for a 200,000-year-old race of beings leaving its crib for the first time.

The Washington Post

Expense, but that's to be expected for the area.

Stanford University

This was to be expected for such an ambitious venture, he said.

The New York Times

Ambiguity was to be expected, for another distinctive quality of Mr. Patinkin's artistry is his attitude.

The New York Times - Arts

Such adjustments are to be expected for someone who had breathed the rarefied air of academe for eight years.

The New York Times

"It's a setback, but kind of to be expected for a little bit," Coach Mike D'Antoni said, again urging patience.

The New York Times - Sports

That's more than the 11 other longlisted novels combined, though high sales are perhaps to be expected for a sequel.

The Guardian

Significant variations with initial column conditions are to be expected for material and compound properties leading to slow release kinetics.

Waste Management

buildings; moreover, an amplification of the damage is to be expected for such structures in the event of an earthquake.

Engineering Structures

But a relatively low gross underwriting spread was to be expected for an offering like the Petrobras deal.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is to be expected for a company that markets to the conscientious consumer.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "to be expected for" is frequently used, consider more grammatically sound alternatives like "predictable given" or "unsurprising considering" to improve clarity and correctness in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the phrase "to be expected for". Varied sentence structures and alternative expressions such as "consistent with" or "in line with" can make your writing more engaging and precise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be expected for" functions as a qualifier, indicating that a particular outcome or situation is not surprising given certain circumstances. Ludwig suggests that while the phrase is widely used, it is not grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

49%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to be expected for" is a frequently encountered expression used to signal that something is predictable given certain circumstances. However, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting that while its usage is widespread across diverse sources like news outlets, scientific publications, and blogs, it is not suitable for formal writing. More precise and grammatically sound alternatives, such as "predictable given" or "unsurprising considering", are recommended for academic and professional contexts. Although many authoritative sources employ this expression, writers should aim for greater clarity and accuracy by choosing better alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

predictable given

Replaces "to be expected" with a more concise "predictable" and clarifies the reason with "given".

typical given

Emphasizes that an event is typical or normal, given certain circumstances.

no surprise given

Directly states the lack of surprise due to a specified reason.

unsurprising considering

Emphasizes the lack of surprise due to a specific circumstance.

only natural in light of

Suggests that something is a natural consequence of a particular situation.

logical considering

Highlights the logical connection between a situation and its expected outcome.

fitting considering

Suggests the outcome is appropriate or harmonious, considering the situation.

consistent with

Highlights the alignment of an outcome with a known factor or condition.

in line with

Similar to "consistent with", suggesting an expected correlation or agreement.

par for the course

An idiomatic expression indicating something is typical or normal in a given situation.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "to be expected for" that are grammatically correct?

Consider using phrases such as "predictable given", "unsurprising considering", or "consistent with" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Is "to be expected for" considered formal or informal language?

While widely used, "to be expected for" is not considered grammatically correct. For more formal contexts, it's better to opt for alternatives that enhance the precision and correctness of your writing.

How can I use "predictable given" instead of "to be expected for" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "The delays are to be expected for a project of this scale", try "The delays are predictable given the scale of the project" to convey the same meaning with improved grammatical correctness.

What's the difference between "to be expected for" and "as expected"?

"As expected" is a more concise and grammatically correct way to express that something is in accordance with anticipation. "To be expected for" is wordier and less grammatically sound. For example, "The results were "as expected"" is preferable to "The results were to be expected for the given conditions".