Is there any difference between the verbs reoccur and recur?
Several sources suggest that they are synonymous, but some fine-tuners suggest that there is a nuanced difference, such as Grammarist, which explains
Something that recurs happens repeatedly, perhaps at regular intervals. Something that reoccurs happens again, but not necessarily repeatedly or at regular intervals.
Does this rule exist, based on usage?
Also, according to this distinction, is the first recurrence of something strictly a reoccurence and not a recurrence? That seems a little incredible.
Best Answer
Your quote from Grammarist matches what I would have answered. Expanding on it a little, I would use recur for an event that is expected to happen repeatedly or regularly and reoccur for an event that might happen again, but is not expected to.