under two circumstances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "under two circumstances" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to specify the conditions or situations in which something will occur or be applicable. Example: "You will only be granted access under two circumstances: if you have the proper identification and if you are accompanied by a staff member."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

I iron under two circumstances.

The New York Times

Now that the deadline has passed, a trade can be made only under two circumstances.

The New York Times - Sports

Voters are interested in these morality side issues under two circumstances.

The New York Times

Under international law, specifically Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, police actions are permissible under two circumstances.

Britannica

Mr. Reagan said all 6,000 troops in a multinational force supplied by the United States, France, Italy and Britain could be withdrawn under two circumstances.

The New York Times

It is solved under two circumstances: one is under the additive controller gain perturbations; the other is under the multiplicative ones.

Journal of the Franklin Institute

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Under McKesson's current policy, the board can go after senior executives' pay under three circumstances.

The New York Times

The results of the double-scratching simulation showed that the interference damages in the scratching process occurred under three circumstances: the interference of lateral cracks, the interference of lateral cracks and plastic damage, and the interference of plastic damage.

International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture

Figure 1 illustrates increasing a bond length under three circumstances: unequal sides, equal sides, and a ring bond.

Journal of Cheminformatics

In fact under three circumstances: if the tailored and targeted access is not technically or operationally possible; or if they see some very dangerous trend that needs more than targeted access.

TechCrunch

"I have a message for the president tonight: Under zero circumstances should the president fire anybody," said Hannity.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "under two circumstances", clearly define each circumstance to avoid ambiguity. For example: "The product can be returned under two circumstances: if it's defective or if it was damaged during shipping."

Common error

Avoid using "under two circumstances" without clearly stating what those circumstances are. Vague references can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. Always provide a clear explanation of each situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under two circumstances" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces or specifies the limited conditions in which a particular action, rule, or situation is applicable. It sets a boundary around the scenarios being discussed, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "under two circumstances" is a prepositional phrase used to specify the limited conditions in which something is applicable. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and usable in various contexts. While primarily found in news, scientific, and academic writing, its neutral to formal tone makes it suitable for clearly delineating specific situations. To ensure clarity, it's best to immediately follow this phrase with the detailed conditions being referenced. Alternatives include "in a couple of situations" or "subject to two conditions", offering similar meaning with slight variations in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subject to two conditions

Focuses on the requirements that must be met.

when these two conditions are met

States that something is conditional on satisfying the two prerequisites.

in a couple of situations

Replaces "under circumstances" with a more informal term like "situations" and "two" with "couple of".

only in these two instances

Highlights the exclusivity and specificity of the conditions.

in a limited number of cases

Emphasizes the restriction of occurrence, suggesting it happens only a few times.

governed by two distinct scenarios

Focuses on how the situation is controlled by two separate scenarios.

limited to a twofold situation

Highlights the restriction and the dual aspect of the scenario.

under a couple of provisos

Replaces "circumstances" with "provisos", highlighting the conditionality.

contingent on a pair of factors

Highlights the dependency on specific influencing elements.

in only a brace of events

Uses the term "brace" which implies a pair and focuses on it being limited to certain specific events.

FAQs

How can I use "under two circumstances" in a sentence?

You can use "under two circumstances" to introduce specific situations where a rule, action, or condition applies. For example, "Access to the building is granted "under two circumstances": with a valid employee ID or when accompanied by a supervisor".

What are some alternatives to saying "under two circumstances"?

Alternatives include "in a couple of situations", "subject to two conditions", or "only in these two instances". These phrases can provide a slightly different nuance while maintaining a similar meaning.

Is it better to list the circumstances before or after stating "under two circumstances"?

While grammatically correct either way, placing "under two circumstances" before listing them prepares the reader for the specific conditions that will follow, improving clarity and flow. For example, "Under two circumstances, a refund will be issued: if the product is faulty or if it doesn't match the description."

What's the difference between "under two circumstances" and "in two cases"?

"Under two circumstances" typically refers to more formal or specific conditions, while "in two cases" is more general. "In two cases" might refer to examples or instances, whereas ""under two circumstances"" implies established conditions or rules.