2 Easy Tips to Remember Reoccurring vs Recurring

2 Easy Tips to Remember Reoccurring vs Recurring SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You’ve likely seen the word "recurring," but what about "reoccurring"? Is this word just a synonym for the former, or does it mean something different? In actuality, there's a lot to learn when it comes to reoccurring vs recurring. Read on to get more information about the similarities and differences between these two words, what they each look like when used in writing, and how you can know when and how to use them. Reoccurring vs Recurring: What's the Difference? The words "reoccurring" and "recurring" might look very similar, but they’re not exactly identical in meaning to each other- at least, not always. Let's start by looking at the "recurring" definition. "Recurring," which you’ve likely seen more often, is an adjective and verb that refers to something that happens again, usually repeatedly or at regular intervals. Its basic verb form is "recur." For example, you could describe a theme that comes up many times in a story as a recurring theme. Or you could call a dream you have again and again a recurring dream. Meanwhile, the adjective and verb "reoccurring" refers to something that happens again- but not necessarily repeatedly or periodically. This word originally comes from the verb "reoccur," which is simply the verb "occur" with the prefix "re" (meaning "again") attached to it. For instance, people might fear that a natural disaster will reoccur in their area (in other words, they fear it will happen again after having happened at least once). To sum up, although both "recurring" and "reoccurring" have similar definitions in that they each describe something happening again, "recurring" typically points to something that happens repeatedly or regularly, whereas "reoccurring" does NOT have any such implication. Now, let’s check that you understand these nuanced differences with reoccurring vs recurring by looking at an example: A recurring problem vs A reoccurring problem The first phrase, "a recurring problem," means that the problem has likely happened multiple times already and continues to happen or seems likely to continue happening. The second phrase, "a reoccurring problem," suggests that the problem likely happened at least once and is now happening again- but without any hint that it will continue to happen or is happening on a regular basis. Now that you've got a better grasp of reoccurring vs recurring, let's look at the history of the two words (that is, their etymology). A Brief History of Recurring vs Reoccurring As it turns out, the histories behind the words "reoccurring" and "recurring" are pretty similar. Both "recur" and "reoccur" come from the Latin word currere, which means "to run." As a result, both words mean "to run again," with "run" acting as a synonym for "happen." "Recur" is the older of the two, originating in the early 16th century, while "reoccur" came about in the 18th century. Because the word "recurring" is older and far more common than "reoccurring," there has been debate about whether "reoccurring" (and "reoccur") is an actual word. Though several older dictionaries don't have an entry for "reoccur" specifically, many recent editions do (or, at the very least, list it as a variation of "occur" under the prefix "re"). Here is an overview of the different forms for reoccurring vs recurring: Root Word/Verb Adjective Noun Verb + ing recur recurring recurrence recurring reoccur (prefix re + occur) reoccurring reoccurrence reoccurring Birthdays (and therefore birthday cakes!) recur each year. Real Examples of Recurring and Reoccurring Even though "recurring" is a more common word than "reoccurring," both words appear often in real-life newspapers and online news sources. Here, we give you several examples to show you the different uses of "reoccurring" and "recurring." Note that, in some cases, the words "recurring" and "reoccurring" are used as adjectives while in other cases are used as verbs. You’ll know a word is an adjective if it’s being used before a noun. I’ve also included a couple of examples that use the noun forms of both words ("recurrence" and "reoccurrence"). All bold emphasis in the following quotations is my own. "A new book claims understanding the meaning of these recurring dreams will transform your life." (Daily Mail) "Identify ways to keep it from reoccurring in the future, and clearly communicate the message to your entire team." (Huffington Post) "However, normal grief will always have moments of reoccurring sharpness, pain as raw as the very first day." (Huffington Post) "A reoccurring back injury limited his playing time in 2003 and 2005." (New York Times) "For instance, along with investing spare change from purchases, Acorns encourages customers to make a recurring investment of as little as $5 a month." (Los Angeles Times) "For many women who thought they had beaten breast cancer, the news that it has roared back years later comes as an especially cruel diagnosis with no clear answers for why or how it recurs." (Science Daily) "The 'Great Flood' of 1861 to 1862 is becoming more likely to reoccur as the climate warms, a new study finds." (Mashable) "Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has confirmed that he has suffered a recurrence of the cancer he was treated for last year." (BBC) "Regulators are expected to put in place in the coming days new rules aimed at preventing a reoccurrence of last month's stunning stock market 'flash crash.'" (Seattle Times) Reoccurring or Recurring? 2 Tips for Using Both Words To wrap up, we give you two tips to help you know when and how to use both "recurring" and "reoccurring." #1: Memorize Set Phrases It can be helpful to familiarize yourself with common phrases out there that use either "recurring" or "reoccurring" (though the former is far more likely). Here are some set phrases with the word "recurring" that will likely come up often in everyday situations: Recurring dream Recurring theme Recurring character Recurring illness Recurring decimal Recurring payment Although there aren’t nearly as many set phrases with the word "reoccurring," I have noticed that many news sources use the phrase "prevent the reoccurrence of ~." The phrase seems to be used most often when referring to a one-off incident, problem, or catastrophe that has the risk of happening again. Nobody wants a stock market crash to reoccur! #2: When in Doubt, Use Recurring If you’re really not sure whether you should use "recurring" or "reoccurring," it’s always better to go with "recurring." Not only is this particular word more commonly used, but it also has a much broader meaning than "reoccurring" does. Remember that "reoccurring" refers only to something that happens again, while "recurring" can refer to something that happens again, possibly repeatedly or at regular intervals. Because "recurring" has a more diverse definition, it’ll always be the safer bet! What’s Next? You've likely heard of metaphors, but how do they differ from similes? Check out our detailed metaphor vs simile guideto learn just how different these two literary devices really are. What exactly is an oxymoron? See real examples of oxymorons from literature and learn how to use them in your own writing. Prepping for the SAT? Then you'll definitely want to look at our comprehensive list of the 262 SAT vocab words you must know. Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Hannah Muniz About the Author Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. No spam ever. hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: '360031', formId: '2167ba30-e68e-4777-b88d-8bf3c84579af', formInstanceId: '2', submitButtonClass: 'btn-red-light btn', target: '#hubspot-container2', redirectUrl: 'http://ww2.prepscholar.com/blog-subscribe-thank-you', css: '.post-bottom .hs-form.stacked label {display:none;} .post-bottom .hs-form.stacked .field div.input {padding-top: 55px; padding-left: 300px;} .post-bottom .hs-input {width: 220px} .post-bottom .btn-primary, .hs-button.primary {margin-top:0px; padding-left:350px} .post-bottom .hs-form-field {margin-bottom:5px}' }); $(function(){ $(".exclusive-tip-form #hubspot-container2 label").hide(); }); function replace_tag(a, b){ $(a).each(function(index) { var thisTD = this; var newElement = $(""); $.each(this.attributes, function(index) { $(newElement).attr(thisTD.attributes[index].name, thisTD.attributes[index].value); }); $(this).after(newElement).remove(); }); } $(function(){ replace_tag($(".posts-by-topic h3"), "h2"); }) Ask a Question BelowHave any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply! Search the Blog Search jQuery(function(){ var $ = jQuery; var url = 'http://google.com/search?q=site:' + location.protocol + '//' + location.hostname + ' '; var $searchModule = $('.hs-search-module.ae6040f2-d753-4329-9c97-0ed1419e15c0'); var $input = $searchModule.find('input'); var $button = $searchModule.find('.hs-button.primary'); if (false) { $input.val(decodeURIComponent(location.pathname.split('/').join(' ').split('.').join(' ').split('-').join(' ').split('_').join(''))); } $button.click(function(){ var newUrl = url + $input.val(); var win = window.open(newUrl, '_blank'); if (win) { //Browser has allowed it to be opened win.focus(); } else { //Browser has blocked it location.href = newUrl; } }); $input.keypress(function(e){ if (e.keyCode !== 13) return; e.preventDefault(); $button.click(); }); }); Improve With Our Famous Guides SATPrep ACTPrep For All Students The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section: Score 800 on SAT Math Score 800 on SAT Reading Score 800 on SAT Writing Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section: Score 600 on SAT Math Score 600 on SAT Reading Score 600 on SAT Writing Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? 15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section: 36 on ACT English 36 on ACT Math 36 on ACT Reading 36 on ACT Science Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section: 24 on ACT English 24 on ACT Math 24 on ACT Reading 24 on ACT Science What ACT target score should you be aiming for? ACT Vocabulary You Must Know ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA How to Write an Amazing College Essay What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For? Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide Should you retake your SAT or ACT? When should you take the SAT or ACT? Michael improved by 370 POINTS! Find Out How Stay Informed Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Looking for Graduate School Test Prep? Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: GRE Online Prep Blog GMAT Online Prep Blog TOEFL Online Prep Blog