I occasionally forget

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I occasionally forget" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that you sometimes fail to remember something or someone, indicating a lack of consistency in memory. Example: "I occasionally forget to bring my lunch to work, which leads to me buying food instead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Truly hopeless, I occasionally forget to enter a book I've just read.

The New York Times - Books

It gets so quiet here at night, I occasionally forget how vibrant the surrounding area is.

The New Yorker

Christie's also an incumbent who was elected in favorable conditions, who's now running against a challenger Barbara Buono whose name I occasionally forget.

The Guardian

I occasionally forget my wallet too, but I don't expect the store to provide me one.

Los Angeles Times

Don't get me wrong – I occasionally forget where I've put the tools, but that's the only negative thing, really.

Vice

As someone who periodically gets caught in my own thoughts and often wants to talk as fast as I think, I occasionally forget to practice active listening.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Furthermore, it occasionally forgets Broadway altogether when it goes into a Disney medley and two tunes from the films of Fred Astaire.

The New York Times

Because I live on a high floor in a building with several hundred units, and because I know from experience the locks on our front doors are almost impenetrable -- even to a locksmith -- I sometimes leave the door to my apartment unlocked and, occasionally, forget to lock it at night.

Huffington Post

Both have nativists who dislike migrants and occasionally forget to distinguish between illegal and merely brown.

The Economist

As scholars we all internalize some reading procedures, and we occasionally forget that our students may not yet have developed procedural knowledge.

University of California, Berkeley

The payoff comes in the form of a flat, wide beach — and enough space to occasionally forget that you're sharing the view.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I occasionally forget", consider adding context to clarify what you forget and why. This adds clarity and makes the statement more meaningful.

Common error

Avoid using "I occasionally forget" as a standalone statement without providing specifics. Always clarify what you are forgetting to prevent ambiguity or confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I occasionally forget" functions as a statement of personal fallibility or a disclosure of a memory-related tendency. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English. Examples in Ludwig show usage in the context of forgetting various things, from wallets to names.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

6%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I occasionally forget" is a grammatically sound and commonly understood expression used to describe intermittent lapses in memory. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid phrase in written English. It appears most frequently in News & Media contexts, suggesting a neutral register suitable for a range of situations. While not extremely frequent, its usage is clear and acceptable. When employing this phrase, it is best practice to provide clarifying context to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I intermittently forget

Replaces "occasionally" with "intermittently", suggesting irregular intervals of forgetting.

I don't always remember

Emphasizes a lack of consistent recall.

I tend to forget sometimes

Indicates a tendency toward forgetfulness, adding a slight emphasis.

I sometimes slip my mind

Replaces "forget" with "slip my mind", indicating a lapse in memory.

I forget every now and then

Uses the idiom "every now and then" to indicate sporadic forgetting.

It sometimes escapes my memory

Uses "escapes my memory" to convey forgetting, focusing on the memory's elusiveness.

I have occasional memory lapses

Highlights the occurrence of brief failures in memory.

I am sometimes forgetful

Shifts from a specific instance to a general characteristic of being forgetful.

I'm known to forget sometimes

Implies a reputation or common occurrence of forgetting.

I periodically blank out

Suggests a temporary loss of memory or focus.

FAQs

What does "I occasionally forget" mean?

The phrase "I occasionally forget" means that you sometimes fail to remember something. It indicates that forgetting happens from time to time, but not very often.

How can I use "I occasionally forget" in a sentence?

You can use "I occasionally forget" followed by the thing you forget. For example, "I occasionally forget "to lock the door"" or "I occasionally forget people's names".

What are some synonyms for "I occasionally forget"?

Some synonyms for "I occasionally forget" include "I sometimes slip my mind", "I don't always remember", or "I tend to forget".

Is it better to say "I occasionally forget" or "I frequently forget"?

The choice between "I occasionally forget" and "I frequently forget" depends on how often you forget. "Occasionally" means sometimes, while "frequently" means often. Choose the word that best describes the frequency of your forgetfulness.