unforeseen situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unforeseen situation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an unexpected event or circumstance that arises suddenly and without warning. Example: "Due to an unforeseen situation, the meeting has been postponed until further notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

In this case we have not an unforeseen situation fitting into a general context.

Cornell University

However, in our modern and constantly evolving socio-technical systems, where the management of unforeseen situation has become the rule, this approach has shown its limitations: operators' initiatives, which sometimes deviate from rules, are equally important for maintaining safety.

Transfusion Clinique et Biologique

Fumio Kishida, the foreign minister, also warned publicly that the new zone "could well lead to an unforeseen situation" in the air, and that Japan cannot accept such a "one-sided" action.

The Economist

To create a tribunal and apply standards not growing out of the past social system or not enacted to deal with an egregious but unforeseen situation would be to open the world to a standard of universal justice that is untested and not in keeping with the war victor's duty to set right the abuses of its own citizens.

The New York Times

At the heart of the issue is the fact that the committee was not told that the 2004 testing, with its significantly lower positive test results, had been partly shut down for much of that season, what Selig's office later called an emergency response to an unforeseen situation.

The New York Times - Sports

Any unforeseen situation in the task will make it differ it from estimated cost and schedule.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Yet it is important to provide appropriate responses to unforeseen situations.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Generally, mobile robots are not designed to efficiently manage faulty or unforeseen situations.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

One of the biggest challenges of any control paradigm is being able to handle large complex systems under unforeseen situations.

Current Advances in Mechanical Design and Production VII Proceedings of the Seventh Cairo University International MDP Conference Cairo-Egypt February 15–17, 2000

This approach has the aim to create interfaces which provide assistance to detect and solve problems especially in unforeseen situations.

Procedia Manufacturing

His main interest is to build robots that can operate in new, unforeseen situations, expressing intelligence through physical interaction with their environment.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing risk management or planning, use "unforeseen situation" to acknowledge the potential for unexpected events to disrupt your plans. This demonstrates a realistic and proactive approach.

Common error

Avoid using "unfortunate situation" when you specifically mean an event that was not anticipated. "Unfortunate situation" simply describes a regrettable circumstance, whether or not it was expected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unforeseen situation" functions as a noun phrase, where "unforeseen" modifies the noun "situation". It is used to describe an event or circumstance that was not anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

30%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unforeseen situation" is a grammatically sound and commonly used way to describe an unexpected event or circumstance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in science, news, and academic writing. When using the phrase, remember to focus on the element of surprise and the lack of anticipation. Alternatives such as "unexpected circumstance" and "unanticipated event" can be used for similar effect. Avoid confusing it with "unfortunate situation", which simply describes a regrettable circumstance. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "unforeseen situation" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unexpected circumstance

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the event, rather than the lack of foresight.

Unanticipated event

Highlights the lack of anticipation surrounding the event.

Unpredicted occurrence

Emphasizes the inability to predict the event beforehand.

Unforeseeable event

Stresses the impossibility of foreseeing the event.

Chance happening

Focuses on the random nature of the event.

Surprise development

Highlights the element of surprise and the unfolding nature of the event.

Contingency

Implies a possible future event or circumstance that cannot be predicted with certainty.

Emergency

Refers to a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action.

Crisis

Implies a turning point or a time of difficulty, instability, or danger.

Imponderable

Highlights something that is difficult or impossible to estimate or assess.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "unforeseen situation"?

You can use alternatives like "unexpected circumstance", "unanticipated event", or "unpredicted occurrence" depending on the context.

How do you use "unforeseen situation" in a sentence?

The phrase "unforeseen situation" is used to describe an event or circumstance that was not predicted or expected. For example, "Due to an unforeseen situation, the project timeline had to be adjusted."

Is "unforeseen situation" formal or informal?

The phrase "unforeseen situation" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and tone than the phrase itself.

What is the difference between "unforeseen situation" and "unforeseeable situation"?

"Unforeseen situation" refers to a situation that simply was not seen beforehand. "Unforeseeable situation" implies that the situation could not have been seen or predicted, regardless of effort.