war erupted

USAGE SUMMARY

"war erupted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a war breaking out, usually after a period of tension. For example, "After years of skirmishes between the two nations, war erupted in the summer of 1900."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

War erupted.

The New Yorker

A propaganda war erupted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 2002 civil war erupted.

The Economist

A religious war erupted.

Britannica

A civil war erupted.

The New York Times - Arts

Civil war erupted and lasted until 1772.

Encyclopedia Britannica

War erupted with Japan in 1937.

Britannica

The family endured a crisis when war erupted in 1914.

The Guardian - Business

The Bosnian war erupted from a complex concatenation of hatreds.

The New York Times - Books

And then, on 7 August, war erupted in Georgia.

The Guardian

A cultural war erupted in the land of Egypt.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "war erupted" to clearly and concisely indicate the sudden commencement of a war, often after a period of building tension.

Common error

While "war erupted" is a common phrase, it can sound overly dramatic in informal situations. Consider using simpler alternatives like "fighting broke out" if the context is less severe.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "war erupted" is to act as a verb phrase indicating the sudden commencement of a conflict. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage for describing the outbreak of hostilities. Examples from Ludwig show it used in various contexts to denote the start of wars, both literal and metaphorical.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Encyclopedias

23%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "war erupted" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote the sudden beginning of a war or conflict. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is most commonly found in news media and encyclopedic sources, indicating a neutral to formal register. When writing, consider using synonyms like "war broke out" for similar effect or choosing less dramatic alternatives for informal contexts. The phrase serves to inform audiences of the commencement of hostilities, often emphasizing the abruptness of the outbreak.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

war broke out

Replaces "erupted" with "broke out", a common synonym indicating the sudden start of a war.

war commenced

Substitutes "erupted" with "commenced", a more formal term for beginning.

war began

Uses the simple verb "began" in place of "erupted", indicating the start of the war.

war flared up

Replaces "erupted" with "flared up", suggesting a sudden and intense outbreak.

conflict ignited

Uses "conflict" instead of "war" and "ignited" instead of "erupted", implying a rapid and intense start.

hostilities broke out

Employs "hostilities" for "war" and "broke out" for "erupted", indicating the start of armed conflict.

fighting erupted

Substitutes "war" with "fighting", focusing on the action of the conflict.

a state of war began

More formally states that a war started.

outbreak of war

Nominalizes the phrase, focusing on the event of the war's start.

the war exploded

Replaces "erupted" with "exploded", suggesting a sudden and violent start.

FAQs

What does "war erupted" mean?

The phrase "war erupted" means that a war has suddenly begun, often after a period of escalating tensions or unresolved disputes. It indicates the outbreak or commencement of armed conflict.

What can I say instead of "war erupted"?

You can use alternatives like "war broke out", "war commenced", or "fighting erupted" depending on the context.

Is "war erupted" formal or informal?

"War erupted" is suitable for neutral to formal contexts, often found in news reports, historical accounts, and academic writing. It might sound overly dramatic in very casual settings.

Can "war erupted" be used for non-military conflicts?

While primarily used for military conflicts, "war erupted" can be metaphorically applied to other intense conflicts, such as a "bidding war erupted" or a "cultural war erupted", to emphasize a sudden and aggressive escalation.