unexpected incident

USAGE SUMMARY

"unexpected incident" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a sudden event that has not been planned or expected. For example, "An unexpected incident caused a power outage in the neighborhood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

It was a completely unexpected incident.

The Guardian

The best way to start, therefore, is to make a comprehensive list of everything you would need to replace if your business was affected by an unexpected incident.

Independent

The risk is that an unexpected incident could escalate as the hot line goes unanswered.Both Mr Gates and General Ma referred to the South China Sea, a vital shipping lane and home to the Paracel and Spratly Islands, which several littoral countries claim as their own and which are believed to sit atop sizeable oil and gas deposits.

The Economist

Although the novels are quite different, both are set in Nazi-occupied Europe and display their author's eye for perfectly illustrative yet wholly unexpected incident and detail, as well as his talent for story­telling and his extraordinarily subtle and penetrating understanding of human nature.

The New York Times - Books

China should introduce "measures to crack Japan's besiegement" of the islands, he wrote, including "preparing a military response to any unexpected incident from Japan".

BBC

Until a single night of Franky's 17th birthday, when an unexpected incident changes their lives forever.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

"Our military staff and civilians should be more alert and improve our awareness of unexpected incidents".

The New York Times

"There were no unexpected incidents or surprises," the statement said, adding that a routine biopsy would be performed.

The New York Times

This would enable vehicles to communicate wirelessly with each other to share information on the flow of traffic and any unexpected incidents like crashes or sudden downpours.

The New York Times - Arts

Toshiko Oiwa, a slim woman with a propulsive dynamism, enters first, followed by seven dancers performing independently of one another until unexpected incidents occur: Ayo Janeen Jackson dives daringly into the hooplike arms of Daniel Russell Kubert.

The New York Times - Arts

On this season's program, which is set in the Australian outback, contestants have had to deal not only with such expected trials as dwindling rice supplies, bugs for dinner and extreme weather conditions, but have also faced such unexpected incidents as being badly burned in a campfire accident.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unexpected incident" to introduce a narrative shift or turning point in your writing, signaling a change in circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "unexpected incident" excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise terminology that reflects the specific nature of the event, such as "unforeseen complication" or "unanticipated consequence."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unexpected incident" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It describes a specific type of event that was not anticipated. As evidenced by Ludwig, the phrase is common across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

24%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unexpected incident" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe unforeseen events. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across a variety of contexts. While it is widely applicable, more formal settings may benefit from utilizing more precise alternatives like "unforeseen consequence" or "unanticipated complication". Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific sources, this phrase serves to introduce narratives involving unplanned occurrences, emphasizing their impact or ramifications. The expression is deemed to have a neutral register, fitting into diverse forms of written and spoken communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprising event

Replaces 'incident' with 'event', broadening the scope to any surprising occurrence.

unforeseen circumstance

Substitutes 'incident' with 'circumstance', emphasizing the situational aspect of the unexpected event.

chance occurrence

Highlights the randomness and lack of planning associated with the incident.

sudden development

Emphasizes the abrupt and rapid nature of the unexpected event.

unanticipated situation

Focuses on the situational aspect and the lack of anticipation.

unexpected eventuality

Replaces 'incident' with 'eventuality', suggesting a possible but unpredicted outcome.

unpredicted happening

Highlights the lack of prediction of the event.

fluke occurrence

Implies the incident was a random, unlikely event.

unforeseen consequence

Focuses on the result or effect of an action that was not predicted.

chance happening

Similar to 'chance occurrence', highlighting randomness.

FAQs

How can I use "unexpected incident" in a sentence?

You can use "unexpected incident" to describe a sudden, unplanned event, such as, "The project faced delays due to an unexpected incident at the construction site."

What's a more formal alternative to "unexpected incident"?

In more formal contexts, consider alternatives like "unforeseen circumstance" or "unanticipated eventuality" for a more sophisticated tone.

Is "unexpected incident" appropriate for academic writing?

While usable, "unexpected incident" might be too general for specific academic contexts. Use more precise terms that reflect the nature of the incident, such as "unforeseen complication" or "unanticipated result".

What can I say instead of "unexpected incident"?

You can use alternatives like "surprising event", "unforeseen circumstance", or "sudden development" depending on the context.