happen vs take place

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

The accident took place at ABC Square.

Can someone please tell me if the above sentence sounds natural?
Is it true that accidents happen/occur while events take place?

2

Hi Daemon,

I suppose the main difference between the two is that ‘happen’ is general and ‘take place’ is more specific. You can say that ‘accidents happen’ in a general way but you would say: The accident took place on Tuesday evening at 6 pm.

Your sentence I believe is perfectly ‘natural’.

Alan

3

Thanks a lot, Alan!

I asked this question because I’d read in Oxford dictionary that accidents happen while events take place. But I found a large number of instances on the Internet where take place was used for accidents. So I thought I’d get it clarified.