Word of the Day

Oct 16, 2006 08:16

recur vs. reoccur

Recur and reoccur mean the same thing -- to happen again. But careful writers make a fine distinction. Reoccur is used to mean to happen one more time, while recur indicates a repetition more than once, usually according to a schedule or pattern:

Her terror reoccurred when she saw her attacker in the courtroom.
The recurring movement of the tides changed the shoreline.

wordsmith, word of the day

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