A global existence result for solutions $u(t)$ of the differential equation $x^{\prime \prime }+f(t,x)=p(t)$, $t\geq t_0\geq 1$, that can be written as $u(t)=P(t)+o(1)$ for all large $t$, where $P^{\prime \prime}(t)=p(t)$, is established by means of the Schauder-Tikhonov theorem. It generalizes the recent work of Lipovan [On the asymptotic behaviour of the solutions to a class of second order nonlinear differential equations, Glasgow Math. J.45 (2003), 179–87] and allows for a unifying treatment of the existence problems concerning asymptotically linear and oscillatory solutions of second order nonlinear differential equations.