Happen vs. Occur: to happen
Happen:
- More common in everyday conversation.
- Can be used in a variety of contexts, including unexpected events.
- Often used with additional information starting with words like “to,” “that,” or “by chance.”
Occur:
- Slightly more formal or academic.
- Usually used in written English, reports, or formal speeches.
- Often followed by “to” when referring to someone having an idea (e.g., “It occurred to me...”).
- Typically refers to something taking place or existing.
Examples:
- Something unexpected happened on the way here.
- The meeting will occur at noon.
- It occurred to me that we forgot the tickets.
- Accidents often happen when drivers are tired.
Rule of Thumb:
- Use happen for general, everyday situations.
- Use occur in formal writing or when referring to something taking place.
Additional Tip:
- “Occur” is less likely to be used for casual, spontaneous events. It often appears in contexts like science (“This phenomenon occurs naturally”) or business (“The error occurred due to a system glitch”).
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
