when a problem happens

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when a problem happens" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that occurs as a result of a problem arising. Example: "When a problem happens, it's important to stay calm and assess the situation before taking action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This may sound pretentious, but it's partly because over the last 20 years or so I've been to see a lot of free improvisational music – and I like that when a problem happens instead of trying to avoid it, or cover it up, they go with it.

The Guardian

The additional key benefit is sometimes a meal may be planned, but when a problem happens, such as an ingredient has passed its use-by date, or the dish does not turn out as planned, the use of spices can make the failed meal into a entirely different (and successful) meal.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Whether it's to tell a company what browser you were using when a problem happened or just mentioning it for some other reason, sometimes showing this information can help the company.

WikiHow

Customers always complained about our HC to let young midwives with less experience to treat them, especially when the problem happens���" (STIDI1) In some areas, like Battambang, there is a thriving private sector which draws customers away from public facilities, which are perceived to offer lower quality.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

Customers always complained about our HC to let young midwives with less experience to treat them, especially when the problem happens…" (STIDI1) "…It is difficult for us due to our age and experience in maternal health care.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

Nexthink's algorithms both identify and even can anticipate when a problem is happening, and either provide a quick suggestion to fix it, or provide the right data to the IT team to help solve the problem.

TechCrunch

When there is a data integrity issue with data stored in a blockchain, it is possible to recognize immediately where and when the problem happened, along with the last person to touch the data.

Forbes

One example of the PM measure for a case when the block permutation problem happens is shown in Figure1. Figure 1 Example of the block permutation problem of FastIVA.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

But they lacked context about what was happening on the phone when the problem happened.

TechCrunch

Pedestrians are allowed to reduce the relaxation time and personal space so that pedestrian can escapes from when freezing problem happened in high density scene.

ROBOMECH Journal

But some of the exploding Galaxy Note 7 smartphones weren't charging when the problem happened, like this incident in Lexington, Kentucky, when the phone began spewing acrid green smoke, causing the owner to be hospitalized with acute bronchitis.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when a problem happens" to clearly indicate a sequence of events: first, a problem arises; then, something else occurs as a consequence.

Common error

While acceptable, "when a problem happens" can sound less professional in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "when an issue arises" or "in the event of a problem" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when a problem happens" functions as an adverbial clause of time, indicating the timing of an event in relation to the occurrence of a problem. Ludwig examples show this clause introducing subsequent actions or consequences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when a problem happens" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase that functions as an adverbial clause of time. According to Ludwig, it’s suitable for expressing conditional relationships and offering advice or explaining procedures in case of an issue. While not overly formal, it's applicable across different contexts but might benefit from more sophisticated phrasing in professional or academic writing. Key alternatives include "when an issue arises" or "if a problem occurs". The neutral tone and varied source types (news, wiki, and scientific) suggest its versatile use. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when an issue arises

This alternative is slightly more formal and emphasizes the occurrence of an issue.

if a problem occurs

This phrase has a conditional tone

when difficulties occur

This focuses on the occurrence of troubles or hardships.

when an obstacle arises

This highlights the appearance of something that blocks progress.

in case of a problem

This phrase offers a contingency plan.

should a problem arise

This alternative is more formal and hypothetical.

upon encountering a problem

This emphasizes the act of finding or facing a problem.

when a challenge presents itself

This alternative frames the problem as a challenge to be overcome.

if something goes wrong

This is a more informal way of expressing a similar concept.

in the event of a mishap

This phrase refers to an unfortunate accident.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "when a problem happens"?

You can use alternatives like "when an issue arises", "if a problem occurs", or "in the event of a mishap" depending on the context.

Is "when a problem happens" grammatically correct?

Yes, "when a problem happens" is grammatically correct. It functions as a relative clause, indicating a time at which a specific situation occurs.

How formal is the phrase "when a problem happens"?

The phrase "when a problem happens" is considered neutral in formality. While perfectly acceptable, more formal alternatives such as "when an issue arises" may be preferable in professional writing.

What's the difference between "when a problem happens" and "if a problem happens"?

"When a problem happens" implies that the problem is likely to occur or has a tendency to occur at some point. "If a problem happens" suggests a hypothetical situation.