Often

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "often" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize how frequently or regularly something occurs. For example, "I often take a walk in the park on my days off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork.

The New York Times

The food market, while it shares that trait that everybody's in it, it is not a market in which your participation is often unpredictable and often involuntary".

The New York Times

North Korea's state media often boasts of successful military and space accomplishments, including the launch of a functional communications satellite, which are not independently verified by outside experts.

The Guardian

"History often vindicates those involved in such acts.

The Guardian

"Too often in the past our rhetoric undermined that positive relationship with business, and with the creation of jobs and wealth for the future.

The Guardian

But we'll know much more after the other side goes because arguments are often one-sided like this half way through.

The New York Times

These ambitions often generate friction with its neighbours, especially Tajikistan.

The Guardian

The basic problem is that we care so much about fairness that we are often willing to sacrifice economic well-being to enforce it.

The Economist

But Republican primary voters too often make the mistake of preferring an unattainable ideal to the best candidate who is actually running.

The Economist

Scandals that aren't out of tune with a celebrity's image are often surprisingly easy to bounce back from: after images of Kate Moss snorting coke surfaced, her bookings fell, but, over time, they went up.

The Economist

George Cukor, the second of four directors on the picture, got rid of the blonde wig and doll's makeup that Garland had been given, presumably to imitate Temple, and stressed the character's naturalness, a quality the younger star often lacked.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "often" to indicate a general frequency without specifying exact numbers or intervals. For example, "I often read before bed" suggests a habit, not a strict schedule.

Common error

While "often" is acceptable in most contexts, consider using more precise alternatives like "frequently", "regularly", or "repeatedly" in formal or academic writing to enhance clarity and sophistication.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "often" is to act as an adverb of frequency. It modifies a verb, indicating how frequently an action occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage as an adverb.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "often" is a versatile word used to indicate frequency. As an adverb, it modifies verbs, providing insight into how regularly an action occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. While "often" is generally neutral in tone, it is important to consider more precise alternatives like "frequently" or "regularly" for formal writing. Use "often" to describe habits or tendencies, without specifying exact timeframes. By understanding these nuances, writers can effectively employ "often" to enhance the clarity and impact of their writing. Top authoritative sources includes The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frequently

Replaces "often" with a synonym that also denotes high frequency.

in frequent instances

Synonymous to "often", but with the addition of the noun "instances".

regularly

Indicates that something occurs at consistent intervals, similar to "often".

repeatedly

Emphasizes the recurrence of an action or event, much like "often".

many times

A more literal way of expressing the idea of "often", focusing on the number of occurrences.

on many occasions

A more formal way to convey the same meaning as "often", highlighting specific instances.

time and again

An idiomatic expression that stresses the repeated nature of an event, similar to "often".

as a rule

Implies that something generally happens, akin to what "often" suggests.

in many instances

Similar to "on many occasions", but can refer to occurrences as examples.

more than once

A simple way to indicate that something happens repeatedly, though not necessarily very frequently.

FAQs

How can I use "often" in a sentence?

"Often" is an adverb of frequency, so you can place it before the main verb (e.g., "I often go to the park"), after an auxiliary verb (e.g., "I have often wondered"), or before "used to" (e.g., "I often used to visit my grandmother").

What words can I use instead of "often"?

You can use alternatives like "frequently", "regularly", "repeatedly", or "usually" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "more often than not"?

Yes, "more often than not" is a common idiom that means "usually" or "in most cases". It's a perfectly acceptable and idiomatic way to express frequency.

What is the difference between "often" and "oftentimes"?

"Often" and "oftentimes" are largely interchangeable. However, "often" is more common and generally preferred in modern English. "Oftentimes" can sometimes sound slightly archaic or overly formal.