approximately every two seconds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately every two seconds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a frequency or interval of occurrence that is close to two seconds. Example: "The lights flickered approximately every two seconds, creating an unsettling atmosphere in the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But now, when the Republicans try to argue against the bill, they'll be reminded approximately every three seconds that their party's alternative is to dump the whole program in favor of a new plan that is yet to be named.

The New York Times

He was dehydrated and bleeding from various places when he finished, having shot some 6,000 shells-which works out to pulling the trigger approximately every five seconds for eight straight hours.

Forbes

Every year, one million people die by suicide worldwide, and approximately every forty seconds there is a suicide attempt [1].

Plosone

These occurred at times in a quasi periodic fashion approximately every five seconds throughout the recording.

BMC Pediatrics

The agglutination slide was gently tilted backwards and forwards approximately once every two seconds for two minutes.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control

Kothari today shared with TechCrunch that over the course of 2011, Pulse went from 1 million downloads to over 11 million, and are currently averaging approximately one download every two seconds, and 1.5 million every month.

TechCrunch

This works out to approximately once every eight seconds.

The New Yorker

Wired's Matt Blum suggests, "If feelings were LEGO sets, my love for you would be the Death Star". And that universal understanding comes from two distinct sources: the global availability of the toy (approximately one LEGO set is sold every seven seconds) and the composition of LEGO set instructions.

HuffPost

This means that approximately one out of every four ninth graders won't graduate high school.

Huffington Post

"She lasted approximately two seconds on the adoption floor," said Novotny.

Huffington Post

The wedding night lasted approximately two seconds, by Harris's estimation.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Enhance clarity by specifying what action occurs approximately every two seconds. For example: 'The machine pulsed approximately every two seconds.'

Common error

Avoid using "approximately every two seconds" when a more precise measurement is available or necessary. If the interval is consistently exact, use "every two seconds" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately every two seconds" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the frequency or interval at which an action occurs. As Ludwig AI indicates, it describes a recurring event within a specific timeframe.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approximately every two seconds" is a grammatically correct and usable adverbial phrase that indicates events occurring at short, recurring intervals. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness in various contexts. While not extremely common, it finds use in both scientific and news-related content. Alternatives like "roughly every two seconds" or "about every two seconds" can provide a slightly different nuance. Remember to prioritize precision when available, but don't hesitate to use "approximately every two seconds" when an estimation suffices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly every couple of seconds

Replaces "approximately" with "roughly" and "two" with "couple of", slightly altering the level of precision.

about every two seconds

Substitutes "approximately" with "about", providing a less formal tone while maintaining similar meaning.

nearly every two seconds

Replaces "approximately" with "nearly", suggesting the interval is very close to two seconds.

almost every two seconds

Similar to "nearly", "almost" indicates a slight deviation from the two-second interval.

at intervals of approximately two seconds

Restructures the phrase to emphasize the interval between occurrences.

every two seconds, give or take

Adds "give or take" for a more casual expression of approximation.

around every two seconds

Uses "around" in place of "approximately", providing a more casual approximation.

at roughly two-second intervals

Combines "roughly" with a noun phrase emphasizing the intervals.

virtually every two seconds

Uses "virtually" instead of "approximately" which means very close to or nearly.

in cycles of roughly two seconds

Rephrases the original to convey the occurence in cycles.

FAQs

How can I use "approximately every two seconds" in a sentence?

You can use "approximately every two seconds" to describe events that occur at short, recurring intervals, such as "The light flickered approximately every two seconds" or "The sensor updated its readings approximately every two seconds".

What is a less formal way to say "approximately every two seconds"?

Alternatives include "about every two seconds" or "roughly every two seconds", which are suitable for more casual contexts.

Is it appropriate to use "approximately every two seconds" in scientific writing?

Yes, "approximately every two seconds" is acceptable in scientific writing when an exact measurement isn't necessary or available. However, consider providing a more precise range if possible.

What's the difference between "approximately every two seconds" and "exactly every two seconds"?

"Approximately every two seconds" implies a slight variation in the interval, while "exactly every two seconds" suggests a precise and consistent timing. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the observed frequency.