Again and again

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Again and again" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize repetition or to indicate that something happens multiple times. Example: "She called him again and again, hoping he would finally answer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then Germany scored again, and again, and again, and again.

The New Yorker

Again and again and again".

The New York Times - Magazine

Again and again.

The New York Times

Again and again and again and again... What else?

The Guardian - Tech

Again and again it happened.

The New York Times - Food

Again and again, no response.

The New York Times

Again, and again, and again and again.

Vice

Happened again and again and again.

The New Yorker

And again, and again, and again.

The Guardian - Sport

Happened again and again.

The New Yorker

But he fired again, and again and again and again..

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "again and again" to emphasize the repetitive nature of an action or event. It adds a stronger sense of recurrence than simply saying 'again'.

Common error

While effective for emphasis, using "again and again" too frequently in a short piece of writing can make your text sound monotonous. Vary your language with synonyms like "repeatedly" or "frequently".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "again and again" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the repetitive nature of an action. Ludwig examples show it emphasizing recurrence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

10%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "again and again" is a common and grammatically correct way to emphasize repetition. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use, particularly in News & Media. While effective, avoid overuse to maintain clarity. Alternatives include "repeatedly" or "time and again". While mostly neutral, it's suitable for most contexts, although more formal options exist. As Ludwig's examples show, this construction effectively conveys the recurring nature of actions or events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Over and over

Uses different words but keeps the same structure of repetition.

Time and again

Employs different nouns to convey the idea of recurring instances.

Repeatedly

Single word synonym for "again and again", thus more concise.

Frequently

Single word expressing a high occurrence rate.

On multiple occasions

More formal way of stating something happened more than once.

Constantly

Indicates something happens all the time or very regularly.

Incessantly

Implies continuous, often annoying, repetition.

Continually

Implies a series of actions with short intervals.

Numerous times

Highlights the quantity of repeated events.

A number of times

Similar to 'numerous times' but slightly less formal.

FAQs

How can I use "again and again" in a sentence?

"Again and again" is typically used to emphasize that something is happening repeatedly. For example, "She practiced the song "again and again" until she perfected it."

What's a more formal alternative to "again and again"?

For a more formal tone, you might use phrases like "repeatedly" or "on multiple occasions".

Is it grammatically correct to say "again, and again"?

Yes, "again, and again" is grammatically correct. The comma adds a slight pause for emphasis, but "again and again" is also perfectly acceptable and more common.

Which is better, "again and again" or "over and over"?

Both "again and again" and "over and over" are correct and have similar meanings. The choice depends on the desired tone and rhythm of your writing.