trail of events

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trail of events" is correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to a series of connected or related events that have happened over a period of time. Example: "The accident investigation team pieced together a trail of events leading up to the plane crash."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The journalism showed an extraordinary paper trail of events leading right to the Vatican in an incredibly compelling manner".

The Guardian - Film

Roy and I eagerly followed the trail of events in Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment" suggested by the Lonely Planet guidebook.

The New York Times - Travel

Through a family diary and a complex trail of events, she unravels a history of crime and even murder that takes us to 19th-century China and America, and to Africa and China today.

The Guardian - Books

For ACIS data, bright sources can leave a trail of events along the CHIP-Y location that are commonly referred to as the "readout streak"; see ahelp acisreadcorr and ahelp acis_streak_map.

Harvard University

When police began to investigate the death, following the trail of events that had led Pinyan to the hospital that summer day, they found themselves balls deep in a ring of bestiality the likes of which Washington State had never seen.

Vice

This complete trail of events and official conduct must be fully established with depositions under oath, subpoenas as necessary, and all relevant email traffic and all other relevant communications provided -- without redactions, claims of executive privilege, or exemptions from freedom of information requests.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The action follows a trail of ordinary events to logical and recognizable conclusions yet veers off to wild emotional explosions and quietly violent implosions.

The New Yorker

For Bloomsbury, the publication will be a high point along a trail of planned events the company hopes will keep its sales, and stock, aloft.

The New York Times

Its Breadcrumbs application, for example, offers the trail of user events that led to an error, which aids in debugging.

TechCrunch

If we ask a neuroscientist what happens next, he will unfold a trail of physical events.

HuffPost

It is best to assume that the storyline progresses somewhat linearly along a basic trail of real events, but also to remember that the details and many of the facts as presented represent only one possible perspective and are airbrushed neatly for Hollywood.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "trail of events", ensure the events are causally linked or chronologically sequential to create a coherent narrative. This helps to illustrate a clear connection or progression.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because events form a "trail", they are necessarily causally linked. Clearly establish the connections between events to prevent misleading interpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trail of events" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a series of occurrences that are linked together, either causally or chronologically. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "trail of events" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for describing a connected sequence of happenings. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. Predominantly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, it serves to structure narratives or explain processes by linking incidents in a meaningful way. While it's important to ensure a genuine connection between the events, mastering its usage can greatly enhance clarity and impact in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chain of incidents

Replaces "events" with "incidents", emphasizing specific occurrences within the sequence.

sequence of occurrences

Substitutes "trail" with "sequence" and "events" with "occurrences", providing a more formal tone.

series of happenings

Replaces "events" with "happenings", offering a slightly more informal alternative.

succession of incidents

Uses "succession" to highlight the chronological order of the incidents.

string of incidents

Emphasizes the interconnected nature of the incidents, similar to beads on a string.

course of events

Focuses on the unfolding and progression of the events.

progression of incidents

Highlights the step-by-step nature and development of incidents.

aftermath of actions

Focuses on the results and consequences following a specific set of actions.

consequence of actions

Focuses on the result of one or more actions.

the story unfolds

This is a more descriptive and literary way of referring to the sequence of events.

FAQs

How can I use "trail of events" in a sentence?

You can use "trail of events" to describe a sequence of incidents that are connected, such as, "The detective followed the trail of events to uncover the truth."

What's a good alternative to "trail of events"?

Alternatives include "chain of incidents", "sequence of occurrences", or "series of happenings" depending on the context.

Is "trail of events" formal or informal?

"Trail of events" is suitable for neutral to formal contexts, often used in news reporting, academic writing, and professional communication.

What does "trail of events" imply?

The phrase "trail of events" implies a sequence where one event potentially leads to another, suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship or a chronological progression that can be traced or followed.