alternatingly

USAGE SUMMARY

"alternatingly" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adverb that means "in an alternating manner," or "taking turns." Example: The students were instructed to work on the project alternatingly, with each person contributing their ideas one at a time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Agnivesh, with whom Satyarthi retained an alternatingly close and antagonistic relationship, founded the more legislatively focused Bandhua Mukti Morcha (BMM; "Bonded Labour Liberation Front") in 1981.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Controversial because of its alternatingly irreverent and confrontational tone, the film was nonetheless lauded by many critics for its sui generis examination of racial and class inequality, gang culture, and sexuality.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Do not be a critic" comes at the very end of this alternatingly comic and serious rant.

The New Yorker

The Czech novelist Milan ­Kundera's new essayistic book, "Encounter," his fourth, is alternatingly elegiac and celebratory.

The New York Times - Books

Is the Harvard myth so strong, so alternatingly alluring and repellent, that readers are ineluctably drawn in? "The Class" explored familiar territory for Segal: the Harvard class of 1958 — Segal's own — marks its 25 years, although the reunion itself appears near the end of the book and is somewhat beside the point.

The New York Times - Books

As alternatingly illuminating and awkward as the usual cocktail-party chatter between intelligent people, the conversation wended back to the inevitability that all stylistic choices will be cringed at later.

The New York Times - Arts

In "Vincere," a sustained, alternatingly exhausting and aesthetically exhilarating howl of a film, the veteran Italian director Marco Bellocchio brilliantly personalizes Mussolini's rise to power through a fictional retelling of his seduction and catastrophically violent betrayal of his reputed first wife, Ida Dalser.

The New York Times

Writing in The Times, Manohla Dargis called "Vincere" "a sustained, alternatingly exhausting and aesthetically exhilarating howl of a film".

The New York Times

(Dargis)20100401 ★ 'VINCERE' (No rating, 2 08, in Italian) In his sustained, alternatingly exhausting and aesthetically exhilarating howl of a film, the veteran Italian director Marco Bellocchio brilliantly personalizes Mussolini's rise to power through a fictional retelling of his seduction and catastrophically violent betrayal of his reputed first wife, Ida Dalser.

The New York Times

Kirby's structure -- stanzas of long, alternatingly indented lines that easily accommodate the cadences of conversation -- contributes to the sense of a casual artistry at work.

The New York Times - Books

(Neil Genzlinger) 'BATTLE IN HEAVENo (No rating, 94 minutes, in Spanish) An alternatingly mesmerizing and off-putting story about sex, class, God, soccer, an ugly man, a beautiful woman, a dead baby, the dirt below them and the wide sky above.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "alternatingly" to clearly indicate a pattern of sequential occurrence or reciprocal action, especially when emphasizing contrast or change between the alternating elements. For example, "The play was alternatingly funny and tragic, keeping the audience engaged."

Common error

Avoid using "alternatingly" when you mean "alternatively". "Alternatively" suggests a choice between two options, while "alternatingly" describes a recurring sequence or reciprocal action.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "alternatingly" is to modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs, describing the manner in which an action occurs or a quality is expressed. It specifies that the action or quality occurs in an alternating pattern, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Encyclopedias

29%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "alternatingly" is a grammatically correct adverb that describes actions or qualities occurring in a sequential or reciprocal pattern. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and Encyclopedia Britannica. It is important to differentiate "alternatingly" from "alternatively", as the former describes a pattern of alternation, while the latter indicates a choice. While "alternatingly" is most frequently found in News & Media and Encyclopedias, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing contexts. Using synonyms like "by turns" can provide stylistic variation. Remember to use "alternatingly" when you want to highlight a recurring sequence or reciprocal action, enhancing the precision and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by turns

This alternative uses a more concise and common idiom to express the concept of alternation.

in alternation

This phrase emphasizes the sequential nature of the actions or states.

one after the other

This alternative provides a straightforward description of sequential occurrence.

interchangeably

This suggests a reciprocal exchange or substitution between two things.

in sequence

This highlights the ordered progression of events.

reciprocally

This emphasizes a mutual or corresponding action or feeling.

in turn

This emphasizes that something happens as a consequence of a previous action or event.

on alternate occasions

This specifies that something happens only on some occasions rather than all.

at different times

This is a general way to indicate that something is not happening always.

periodically

This indicates that something occurs repeatedly at regular intervals.

FAQs

How can I use "alternatingly" in a sentence?

"Alternatingly" is used to describe actions or qualities that occur in a sequential or reciprocal pattern. For example, "The weather was "alternatingly sunny and rainy".".

What does "alternatingly" mean?

The word "alternatingly" means in an alternating manner or by turns. It suggests a back-and-forth pattern between two or more things.

Is there a difference between "alternatingly" and "alternatively"?

Yes, "alternatingly" means in an alternating manner or by turns, while "alternatively" means as another option or possibility. They are not interchangeable.

What are some synonyms for "alternatingly"?

Some synonyms for "alternatingly" include "by turns", "in alternation", and "one after the other".