At regular intervals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "At regular intervals" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe actions or events that occur repeatedly over a set period of time. Example: "The maintenance team checks the equipment at regular intervals to ensure everything is functioning properly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

At regular intervals the hearing took a theatrical turn.

The Guardian

At regular intervals guards walk into the cell.

The Guardian

At regular intervals, automatic weapons shattered the stillness.

The New York Times

Repeat at regular intervals.

The Guardian - Travel

She checks her email at regular intervals.

Independent

They are replaced at regular intervals".

The New York Times

But can lavish attention at regular intervals.

The Guardian

Gospel references come at regular intervals.

The Guardian - Books

Billboards approached at regular intervals, like incoming waves.

The New Yorker

Musicians will be performing at regular intervals throughout the festival.

The New York Times

Even in normal times, aircraft are disinfected at regular intervals.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing scheduled maintenance, use "At regular intervals" to convey reliability and predictability. For instance, "The system undergoes maintenance at regular intervals to ensure optimal performance."

Common error

Avoid using "At regular intervals" when the timing is inconsistent or unpredictable. Instead, opt for phrases like "occasionally" or "sporadically" to accurately describe the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "At regular intervals" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate how frequently an action occurs. Ludwig examples show its usage in diverse contexts, reinforcing its role in specifying the timing of events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "At regular intervals" is a versatile phrase used to describe actions or events that occur repeatedly with a degree of consistency. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as an adverbial phrase, and is frequently found in news, scientific, and general writing contexts. While versatile, it's important to ensure the phrase accurately reflects the timing of the events described, using alternatives when the timing is inconsistent. From the data, the phrase "At regular intervals" has very high frequency in the analyzed sources and the Ludwig AI confirms that is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

At consistent intervals

Replaces "regular" with "consistent" to emphasize uniformity in timing.

At fixed intervals

Emphasizes the predetermined and unchanging nature of the timing.

Periodically

Single-word adverb replacing a prepositional phrase for conciseness.

At predictable intervals

Highlights the anticipatable nature of the occurrences.

On a recurring basis

Rephrases the concept using "recurring" to highlight the repetitive nature.

At determined intervals

Highlights the planned nature of the timing.

At set times

Simplifies the phrase, focusing on the scheduled nature of the occurrences.

At rhythmic intervals

Implies a pattern or cadence to the timing of the occurrences.

Every so often

Uses a more informal tone while retaining the meaning of repeated occurrences.

From time to time

Emphasizes the sporadic yet repeated nature of the occurrences.

FAQs

How can I use "At regular intervals" in a sentence?

You can use "At regular intervals" to describe actions or events that happen repeatedly over time. For instance, "The technician checks the equipment "at regular intervals" to ensure proper function."

What are some alternatives to "At regular intervals"?

Alternatives include "periodically", "at consistent intervals", or "on a recurring basis" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "At regular intervals" or "regularly"?

Both "At regular intervals" and "regularly" can be used, but "At regular intervals" provides more emphasis on the specific timing and repetition of the event, while "regularly" simply implies it happens often.

Can "At regular intervals" be used for events that are not precisely timed?

While "At regular intervals" implies a degree of precision, it can still be used if the timing is generally consistent. If the timing is highly variable, consider using phrases like "occasionally" or "from time to time".