when did it occur

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "When did it occur?" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to provide the date and time of an event that has already taken place. For example: "I heard an explosion last night. When did it occur?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Where and when did it occur?

The New Yorker

By Martha Banning Thomas The New Yorker, October 13 , 1928P. 50 When, oh, when did it occur: View Article.

The New Yorker

The detection of average and/or variance changes is dealt as a classical change-point problem analysis where the two main questions raised are: 1) "Did a change really occur?" and 2) "When did it occur?".

Computer Aided Chemical Engineering

By Martha Banning Thomas The New Yorker, October 13 , 1928P. 50 When, oh, when did it occur: View Article By Malcolm Gladwell By Rivka Galchen By David Remnick By Jelani Cobb.

The New Yorker

When did it occur to you to do this? A. This book was the brainchild of an editor at Workman named Raquel Jaramillo, who is better known now as R. J. Palacio, the author of the young adult novel "Wonder".

The New York Times

The New Yorker, October 13 , 1928P. 50 When, oh, when did it occur: View Article Trump's Lawyers Argue That He Cannot Be Impeached Because He Was Never Actually Elected What Happens When a Bad-Tempered, Distractible Doofus Runs an Empire?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"Partisan Bias in Blame Attribution: When Does It Occur?" Journal of Experimental Political Science.

Stanford University

And when does it occur?

Biology Direct

Was our separation from the apes fast or slow, and when and why did it occur?

The Guardian

What happened in the story, and when and where did it occur?

WikiHow

When precisely did it occur?

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "when did it occur", ensure that the "it" is clearly defined in the preceding context to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of asking "The anomaly was detected; when did it occur?", specify: "The anomaly was detected on the system; when did it occur?"

Common error

Avoid using "when did it occur" in contexts where a simpler term like "happen" or "begin" is more appropriate. "Occur" often implies a more formal or significant event. For example, it's better to ask "When did the meeting start?" rather than "When did the meeting occur?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when did it occur" functions as an interrogative clause used to inquire about the specific time an event took place. It typically follows a statement that introduces the event or situation in question. As supported by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "when did it occur" serves as a direct question to determine the timing of an event. According to Ludwig, it's a grammatically sound and widely applicable phrase, often appearing in news reports, scientific analyses, and general inquiries. Although "when did it happen" serves as an alternative, "when did it occur" leans towards a more formal tone, suitable for professional or academic use. Remember to consider the context to decide if you can use other more straightforward options. Ensure that the subject of the question (the "it") is clearly defined for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when did it happen

Replaces "occur" with a more common and informal synonym, "happen".

at what time did it take place

Uses the phrase "take place" which is a more descriptive and slightly more formal way of saying "occur".

what was the date of its occurrence

Changes the structure to be more formal, using "occurrence" instead of "occur" and explicitly asking for the date.

when did it commence

Substitutes "occur" with "commence", which implies a beginning or start time.

what year did it transpire

Replaces "occur" with the more formal and less common "transpire", and focuses on the year.

what was the point at which it occurred

Adds more detail to the question, specifying that you are looking for a specific point in time.

when was it

A simplified version, suitable for contexts where the 'it' is already clearly defined.

what prompted it and when

Shifts the focus to include both the cause and the timing of the event.

what was the occasion and the date

Asks about the specific event and explicitly asks for its date.

how long ago did it occur

Focuses on the duration since the event happened, rather than a specific date.

FAQs

How can I use "when did it occur" in a sentence?

The phrase "when did it occur" is used to ask about the timing of an event. For example, "The error message appeared suddenly; "when did it occur"?" or "The scientific breakthrough was significant; "when did it occur"?"

What are some alternatives to "when did it occur"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "when did it happen", "when did it take place", or "what was the date of its occurrence".

Is "when did it occur" formal or informal?

The phrase "when did it occur" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "when did it happen". It's suitable for professional, academic, or news contexts.

What's the difference between "when did it occur" and "where did it occur"?

"When did it occur" asks about the time an event happened, while "where did it occur" asks about the location. For example, ""when did it occur"?" seeks a date or time, and "where did it occur?" seeks a place.