unanticipated development

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unanticipated development" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or change that was not expected or foreseen. Example: "The unanticipated development in the project led to a significant shift in our strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

An unanticipated development of being a culture editor for the Web is that one also becomes an undertaker.

The New Yorker

For baseball and the union, the seizure of the test results was an alarming, and unanticipated, development.

The New York Times - Sports

In a highly unanticipated development, which could only have been predicted by anyone with a passing acquaintance with pop culture, the Brexit concert is in crisis.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

WASHINGTON — Two months after the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case on the rights of the Guantánamo detainees, an unanticipated development has suddenly scrambled the outlook for a straightforward resolution.

The New York Times

In contrast, in many other countries where preexisting transmission was high to moderate, efforts at elimination were largely abandoned by the late 1960s because of the unanticipated development of parasite resistance to chloroquine and decreasing efficacy of DDT against mosquito vectors.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That leaves little room for dealing with unanticipated developments.

Harvard Business Review

The request was prompted by "our concerns about recent unanticipated developments in the credit and financial markets".

The New York Times

Participants were confronted with unanticipated developments as the simulated scenarios unfolded, introduced by a facilitator.

Water Research

At the same time, unanticipated developments in the economy force a fresh look at the whole range of budget issues.

The New York Times

Complicating matters further, the inevitability of unanticipated developments, whether homegrown or external in origin, means that course corrections often are needed.

The Guardian - Business

The term, which began on Oct. 1 and ended on June 26, included some unanticipated developments, like a string of victories for employees in workplace discrimination cases.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unanticipated development" when you want to emphasize that a situation or event was not predicted or expected, and that it has significant implications.

Common error

While "unanticipated development" is grammatically sound, avoid using it excessively in informal writing. Simpler terms like "unexpected event" might be more appropriate in casual contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unanticipated development" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "unanticipated" modifies the noun "development". It describes a situation or event that was not expected or predicted. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unanticipated development" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, best suited for describing unexpected events or situations, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While the phrase is acceptable in a variety of contexts, as seen in the provided examples from sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, it is especially fitting for neutral to professional settings, such as news reports, academic writing, and business communications. Alternatives include "unexpected occurrence" and "surprising turn of events". It is important to use "unanticipated development" when the lack of expectation is key to the message. It is a relatively rare phrase but perfectly valid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unpredicted event

Uses a more direct synonym for "unanticipated".

unexpected occurrence

Replaces "development" with a more general term, emphasizing the event's unexpected nature.

unexpected consequence

Emphasizes the resulting aspect of the development.

surprising turn of events

Highlights the element of surprise associated with the development.

unplanned outcome

Highlights that the result was not part of any prior plan.

unforeseen circumstance

Focuses on the circumstantial and unpredictable nature of the event.

unforeseeable incident

Emphasizes the lack of ability to see it coming, and uses the word 'incident'.

surprise outcome

Uses more generic vocabulary and refers to the result of something.

sudden twist

Highlights the abrupt and unexpected nature of the change.

chance happening

Focuses on the accidental and unplanned nature of the development.

FAQs

How can I use "unanticipated development" in a sentence?

You can use "unanticipated development" to describe an event or situation that was not expected, such as, "The project faced an "unanticipated development" when the supplier went out of business".

What are some alternatives to "unanticipated development"?

You can use alternatives like "unexpected occurrence", "surprising turn of events", or "unforeseen circumstance" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "unanticipated development" and "unforeseen development"?

"Unanticipated development" and "unforeseen development" are very similar. "Unanticipated" emphasizes that something was not expected, while "unforeseen" emphasizes the inability to predict it.

Is "unanticipated development" formal or informal?

"Unanticipated development" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase, suitable for business, academic, or news contexts. In very casual settings, simpler terms might be preferred.