to occur by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to occur by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about something happening on or before a specific date or time. For example: "The event is scheduled to occur by the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This, too, seemed to occur by itself.

The New York Times - Books

Boeing now expects the first flight of the 747-8 toccurur by early 2010.

The New York Times

That would have needed to occur by about Memorial Day to allow time for regulatory scrutiny.

The New York Times

Confrontation is as likely to occur by accident as by design.

The Guardian

BNC now expects the sale to the management group for $10 a share to occur by the end of July.

The New York Times

We would not have Apache gunships above us, and any medical evacuation would need to occur by ground.

The New York Times - Magazine

He found the transition easy — indeed, it seemed to occur by itself.

The New York Times - Books

That is expected to occur by the end of the year, Mr. Berlusconi said.

The New York Times

The rest of those cuts are expected to occur by the end of the first half of this year, they said.

The New York Times

Mr. Donaldson said the move did not amount to disarmament, which under the current agreement is supposed to occur by June.

The New York Times

Sometimes such relationships were said to occur "by accident", when people were sleeping; but as long as social fictions and propriety were maintained, these remained unspoken.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to occur by" to clearly indicate a deadline or a means of accomplishment.

Common error

Avoid using "to occur by" when you mean "to occur through". "By" specifies a deadline or agent, whereas "through" specifies a method or process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to occur by" functions as a prepositional phrase specifying a deadline or the means of accomplishment. As Ludwig AI states, it is used when talking about something happening on or before a specific date or time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to occur by" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to specify deadlines or the means through which an event takes place. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various writing styles. With a neutral register, it fits seamlessly into scientific, news, and business contexts. Remember to use "by" to indicate a deadline or responsible agent and "through" to describe a method. While semantically similar alternatives exist, "to occur by" remains a clear and effective choice for conveying temporal or causal relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be caused by

Highlights the origin or source of the occurrence.

to result from

Indicates that something is a consequence of something else.

to arise as a result of

Formally indicates that something happens because of something else.

to happen through

Emphasizes the means or method by which something occurs.

to take place because of

Directly states the cause-and-effect relationship.

to come about via

Highlights the pathway or channel through which something occurs.

to transpire due to

Focuses on the cause or reason for the occurrence.

to emerge through

Suggests a gradual or developmental process of occurrence.

to befall through

Suggests a more passive or accidental occurrence.

to originate from

Emphasizes the starting point or beginning of the occurrence.

FAQs

How is "to occur by" used in a sentence?

The phrase "to occur by" indicates a deadline or a means of accomplishment. For example, "The event is scheduled to occur by the end of the month."

What are some alternatives to using "to occur by"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "to happen through", "to result from", or "to be caused by".

Is there a difference between "to occur by" and "to occur through"?

"To occur by" typically denotes a deadline or the agent performing an action, whereas "to occur through" indicates the method or process by which something happens.

When is it appropriate to use "to occur by" in formal writing?

It is appropriate in formal writing when specifying a deadline or indicating the means by which something will be accomplished. For example, "The changes are expected "to occur by" Q4 of this year."