Time and again

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Time and again" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express that something happens repeatedly or frequently over time. Example: "Time and again, she proved her dedication to the project by staying late to meet deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Books

Film

Business

Wikipedia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Time and again she spun.

The New York Times - Arts

Time and again.

The New York Times

Time and again he has been right.

The New York Times - Sports

Time and again he has been wrong.

The New York Times - Sports

Time and again, sisterhood trumped selfishness.

The New York Times - Books

Time and again, bathos derails pathos.

The Guardian - Film

Time and again, Schumer ignores these complications.

The New York Times - Books

Time and again, cable would blink.

The New York Times

Time and again there has been failure.

The Guardian - Sport

Time and again Johnson returns to Europe.

The Guardian - Books

Time and again I hear similar sentiments.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Time and again" to emphasize the repetitive nature of an event or action, particularly when the repetition is noteworthy or surprising. For example, "Time and again, the team overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to win the championship."

Common error

Avoid using "Time and again" when a simple statement of frequency suffices. The phrase is best reserved for situations where the repetition itself is significant or adds to the impact of the statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Time and again" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an action or event occurs repeatedly. Ludwig AI affirms this usage with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Sports

8%

Books

7%

Less common in

Film

2%

Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Time and again" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to emphasize the repetitive nature of an event or action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across various contexts. While it is generally suitable for both formal and informal settings, consider using more formal alternatives in academic writing. Remember that its effectiveness lies in highlighting the significance of the repetition itself. According to Ludwig, this idiom is very common in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Again and again

Almost identical in meaning but uses a slightly different word order.

Time after time

Very similar to the original, but with a slightly different flow.

Repeatedly

This is a more direct and concise synonym, lacking the idiomatic flavor of the original phrase.

Over and over

This alternative emphasizes the repetitive nature, similar to "Time and again" but is slightly more informal.

Frequently

A more formal synonym, suitable for academic or professional contexts.

Many times

A straightforward and easily understood alternative.

Often

A simpler and more general term for indicating recurrence.

On numerous occasions

This phrase emphasizes the multiple instances of an event or action.

Recurrently

A more technical or specialized term for something that happens repeatedly.

Again and once more

This alternative underscores the act of something happening multiple times with an implied sense of continuation.

FAQs

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

You can use "Time and again" to show that something happens repeatedly. For example, "Time and again, the software crashed despite numerous updates."

What's a simple way to say "Time and again"?

Alternatives to "Time and again" include "repeatedly", "often", or "frequently", depending on the level of formality you need.

Is "Time and again" formal or informal?

"Time and again" is generally considered to be neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "on numerous occasions" may be preferred in some academic or professional settings.

What's the difference between "Time and again" and "Again and again"?

"Time and again" and "again and again" are nearly identical in meaning and can often be used interchangeably. The choice between them often comes down to stylistic preference.