Grammar and Punctuation The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

Transpire

The celebrity issued a statement through his attorney that he was "sorry and saddened over what transpired." This usage of transpire, though common, is incorrect. The word doesn't mean "occur" or "happen." Something that transpires is revealed or becomes known over time. The Oxford online dictionary gives this example: "It transpired that millions of dollars of debt had been hidden in a complex web of transactions."


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