to occur over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to occur over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that happens over a period of time, or for something that has taken place during a certain period of time. For example: "The changes in the landscape occurred over many years."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This means that future innovation is going to occur over in China and not here in the United States".

Huffington Post

Death used to occur over much shorter periods of time, and it was part of the fabric of every family.

Huffington Post

In general, larger avalanches tend to occur over longer durations, and smaller ones tend to be shorter (Fig. 7).

Plosone

What problems or issues seemed to occur over and over?

WikiHow

Economists expect some modest job creation to occur over the next several months.

The New York Times

These changes are expected to occur over the next two years.

The New York Times

Additional vacancies are thus likely to occur over the next four to eight years.

The Guardian

"But the unprecedented trajectory that we're on now is forcing that change to occur over decades.

Stanford University

But consider what has happened in the last few weeks, and what is scheduled to occur over the next month.

The New York Times

The shift toward offering chicken that is largely antibiotic-free is to occur over two years, the company said.

The New York Times

Optimal load transfer into an n-wall MWCNT is shown to occur over a length of ∼1.5nℓ.

Acta Materialia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to occur over" when you want to emphasize that an event or process unfolds or happens during a specific duration or across a specific area. For instance, "The most significant changes are expected "to occur over" the next decade."

Common error

Do not use "to occur over" for instantaneous events. Instead, reserve it for processes or changes that unfold over time. For example, saying "The accident "occurred over" a millisecond" is inappropriate; "occurred in" would be better.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to occur over" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, indicating the temporal or spatial extent of an action or event. Ludwig showcases its usage in describing events unfolding over a period of time or across a specific area.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

40%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to occur over" is a versatile prepositional phrase that signifies the unfolding of an event or process across a period or area. As verified by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and widely used. Its frequent appearance in Science and News & Media contexts reflects its applicability in formal and informal communication. While suitable for many situations, avoiding its use with instantaneous events is advisable. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate its broad range, confirming its status as a common and useful expression. Consider alternatives like "to take place during" or "to happen within" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to take place throughout

"Take place" is a general synonym for occur, and "throughout" emphasizes the continuity across a period.

to transpire across

This alternative uses "transpire" to mean happen and "across" to suggest a spatial or temporal extent.

to happen within

"Happen" is a simple substitute for occur, and "within" confines the event to a specific boundary or timeframe.

to unfold during

"Unfold" implies a gradual revelation or development, while "during" specifies a time period.

to arise during

"Arise" suggests something emerging or beginning, with "during" specifying a time frame.

to develop amidst

"Develop" suggests a process of growth or change, and "amidst" implies a surrounding environment or situation.

to come about in

"Come about" is an idiomatic way of saying happen, and "in" specifies a context or period.

to play out across

"Play out" suggests a sequence of events unfolding, while "across" spans a period.

to materialize during

"Materialize" suggests something becoming real or apparent, while "during" specifies a time.

to pass during

"Pass" in this context means to happen or occur, and "during" indicates the time frame.

FAQs

How do I use "to occur over" in a sentence?

Use "to occur over" to indicate that an event or process takes place during a period of time or across an area. For example: "The transformation is expected "to occur over" several years."

What's a good alternative to "to occur over"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "to take place during", "to happen within", or "to unfold during".

Is it correct to say "to occur over time"?

Yes, "to occur over time" is grammatically correct and commonly used to emphasize that something happens gradually or continuously as time passes. You can also use phrases like "to develop over time" or "to change over time".

Can "to occur over" refer to a geographical area?

Yes, "to occur over" can describe events happening across a geographical area. For example: "The storm damage was "to occur over" a large region."