a dozen times

USAGE SUMMARY

"a dozen times" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a large, but unspecified, number of times that something has been repeated. For example, "I've told you a dozen times not to run in the house!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But a dozen times.

The New Yorker

I saw the movie a dozen times.

The New Yorker

A dozen times she won.

The New York Times

Maybe half a dozen times.

The Guardian - Film

It's happened a dozen times at least.

The New York Times

("Moo York" was used a dozen times).

The New York Times

I've been a dozen times or more.

The Guardian

I slid back quickly and repeated this a dozen times.

The New York Times - Sports

It was read more than a dozen times.

The New York Times

"He's been pronounced politically dead a dozen times.

The New York Times

I must have read it a dozen times.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a dozen times" when you want to emphasize a significant number of repetitions without being precise. It adds a touch of informality while still conveying frequency.

Common error

Avoid using "a dozen times" when precision is required. If the exact number of occurrences is important, state the specific number instead of using this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dozen times" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. According to Ludwig, it indicates the frequency of an action, expressing that something has occurred on numerous occasions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a dozen times" is a common and acceptable phrase used to indicate that something has occurred approximately twelve times. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used. While it is most frequently found in news and media contexts, it is best to choose more formal alternatives such as "on numerous occasions" in formal writing. When using "a dozen times", ensure that you are not aiming for precise numerical accuracy, as the phrase is meant to convey an approximate quantity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

time and time again

Highlights the persistence and recurrence of an event.

again and again

Similar to 'over and over' but can also imply a deliberate repetition.

many times over

Emphasizes the abundance of repetitions.

over and over

Suggests a continuous and possibly tedious repetition.

repeatedly

Focuses on the action being done many times without specifying an exact number.

on numerous occasions

A more formal way of saying many times, suitable for professional contexts.

countless times

Implies a very large number of repetitions, possibly too many to count.

quite a few times

Indicates that something happened several times, but avoids exact numbers.

a good number of times

Indicates a substantial amount of repetitions, without giving an exact count.

on several instances

A more formal equivalent to 'quite a few times'.

FAQs

How can I use "a dozen times" in a sentence?

You can use "a dozen times" to indicate that something has happened or been repeated many times. For example, "I've told you "a dozen times" not to leave your shoes in the hallway."

What can I say instead of "a dozen times"?

You can use alternatives like "repeatedly", "on numerous occasions", or "many times over" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a dozen times" in formal writing?

While "a dozen times" is widely understood, it's generally better to use more formal alternatives like "on several instances" or "on numerous occasions" in formal writing.

What does "a dozen times or so" mean?

"A dozen times or so" means approximately twelve times, suggesting the speaker is estimating and not being exact. It implies a number close to twelve but not necessarily precise.