Word Usage – Comparing ‘Happen’, ‘Occur’ and ‘Take Place’

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I need to know how a native speaker would fill in the blanks using the proper choice from among my provided items: "take place", "happen" and "occur"?

Please let me know about my take on each sentence. Also I have no reason why I think so. That's just an intuition. Regardless of weather I'm right or wrong on my selected items for each sentence, please let me know about the reason behind each priority over another choice in each separated sentence.

She wanted their wedding to ……………… quickly. [here all three options are plausible for me].

The Olympics ……………….. every four years. [here I think only "c" works].

If any of these symptoms ………………. while you are taking the medication, consult your doctor immediately. [here only "b" works for me.].

a) happen {anything that happens}
b) occur {to happen especially unexpectedly}
c) take place {to happen}

Best Answer

Each choice is grammatical in each sentence. The specific choice is a matter of style and desired emphasis and shade of meaning, not of grammar.

In 1, I think c) "take place" might be the most common choice, and "occur" the least common. Because a wedding is planned, and "occur" is more often used with things that happen but are not planned.

In 2 one might as well flip a three-sided coin -- there is really no favored choice. My previous argument about "occur" would suggest that it should not be used, but in fact it is used, specifically for the Olympics, with some frequency. Perhaps my argument was not as strong as I thought.

In 3 I think b) "Occur" will be far more likely, as it seems to me to have the proper medical flavor. and such symptoms are definitely unplanned. But s0 happen could surely be used.

Related Solutions

Learn English – Difference between “to occur” and “to happen”

It's an interesting question. As @Mistu4u mentioned, the formal definitions of both words are similar.
There are some differences, however:

Happen — something random to take place;
Occur — something to become observable; in a certain moment; an event or a process;

The difference is even more evident if you notice that occur is relative to current as they both came from Latin currere "to run".

So, I would use occur in the following contexts:

Formal conversations;
When a time or place of an event is specific;
Expected events, like dates: The Spring Bank Holiday that would usually have occurred at the end of May;
Discoveries, ideas: The discovery occurred in Mono Lake, California;

...and happen in the following contexts:

Informal context;
Rough time or place;
Random events, usually without being planned;

As usual, you can step off these recommendations if you need to convey your attitude about what you are speaking about.

Word-Usage – Term for Someone Who Never Gets Tired

Your analysis is quite correct.

a. tireless
b. untiring
c. indefatigable
d. relentless

Tireless means unstoppable with your approval;

Untiring means unstoppable but this word is not quite as common as "tireless";

Indefatigable means the same but sounds formal, mostly because it's a six-syllable word;

And Relentless suggests either disapproval, grudging approval or approval as the person faces difficult opposition.

The bully has been relentless in tormenting my son.

President Smith has been relentless in his quest to discover and fire his political enemies.

Our troops in the west have been relentless at discovering and fighting the enemy.

Notice in #2 above that "President Smith" is doing an activity which is not really of a physical nature. You likely wouldn't use "tireless" in this case, because tireless implies a physical activity that makes you tired. "Relentless" can be used for this purpose (#3), but it can also simply mean that the person has not relented (stopped or slowed down).

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Learn English – Difference between “to occur” and “to happen”

Word-Usage – Term for Someone Who Never Gets Tired

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