are occasionally more

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are occasionally more" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the frequency or degree of something in relation to another subject or condition. Example: "In some cases, the results of the experiment are occasionally more reliable than previous studies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But such events are now not just more common, they are occasionally more fearsome than expected.

The Guardian

And while the food is no doubt delicious (though quite challenging to make at home), the names of the dishes are occasionally more than a little humorous.

Huffington Post

Whatever happens to the Dodgers' roster is out of his hands, so all Van Slyke can do is stand in the outfield, smile, and remember that sometimes, baseball is a game that comes more easily to those who are occasionally more interested in butterflies.

Los Angeles Times

I just think we're at the point of trying to win games". Whatever happens to the Dodgers' roster is out of his hands, so all Van Slyke can do is stand in the outfield, smile, and remember that sometimes, baseball is a game that comes more easily to those who are occasionally more interested in butterflies.

Los Angeles Times

Rather, hybrids are occasionally more fit than pure parental individuals [13], can be capable of exploiting habitat unavailable to parents [14], and can even displace one of the parental species in an original habitat [15].

Plosone

Products of sequential oxidation/addition reactions (e.g., S-conjugates of aminophenols) are occasionally more toxic than the parent compounds because of their higher autoxidizability and their accumulation in the kidney.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

And – OK, less is occasionally more.

The Guardian - Music

Mr. Bravo's advice is occasionally more upbeat.

The New York Times

After these stylistic excesses, the long-gestating Inglourious Basterds (2009) was occasionally more restrained.

Independent

The PCR and cultivation results of real brewery samples were mostly congruent but the PCR methods were occasionally more sensitive.

International Journal of Food Microbiology

In other sketches, there is occasionally more bark than bite, but the satiric quotient remains high.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are occasionally more", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is being compared and why the occasional increase is significant. For example, "The costs are occasionally more due to unforeseen circumstances" provides a clear understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "are occasionally more" when the increase is actually frequent. Using "are frequently more" or "are often more" would be more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are occasionally more" functions as a comparative qualifier, indicating that a certain attribute or characteristic sometimes exceeds a standard or expected level. It serves to introduce a degree of variability or exception to a general statement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

41%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are occasionally more" is a useful tool for indicating that something exceeds a typical level or expectation at certain times. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and serves to add nuance to descriptions. While not as frequent as alternatives like "are sometimes greater", it provides a specific level of infrequency that can be valuable in various contexts. To use this phrase effectively, ensure the context clearly establishes what is being compared and that the 'occasional' increase is, in fact, infrequent. Be mindful not to overuse the phrase when a more common adverb of frequency would be more fitting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are sometimes greater

Replaces "occasionally" with "sometimes", suggesting a similar, but slightly more frequent, occurrence.

are at times greater

Uses "at times" instead of "occasionally", suggesting a less formal and more casual tone.

are intermittently greater

Replaces "occasionally" with "intermittently", focusing on the sporadic nature of the occurrence.

are from time to time greater

Uses "from time to time" to express a similar meaning as "occasionally", indicating irregular occurrences.

are sporadically more

Replaces "occasionally" with "sporadically", highlighting the irregular and scattered nature of the occurrence.

are seldom greater

Uses "seldom" instead of "occasionally", indicating a less frequent occurrence.

are now and then greater

Employs "now and then" to convey a sense of infrequency similar to "occasionally".

are rarely more

Substitutes "occasionally" with "rarely", implying an even lower frequency.

are uniquely better

The frequency adverb is removed and "better" is used instead of "more", indicating that the situation or thing is uniquely superior, but it changes the overall meaning.

are notably bigger

The frequency adverb is removed and "bigger" is used instead of "more", indicating an observed difference in the size, amount, or level, but it changes the overall meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "are occasionally more" in a sentence?

Use "are occasionally more" to indicate that something is sometimes, but not regularly, greater in quantity, degree, or extent. For example, "The waiting times "are occasionally more" during peak hours".

What phrases can I use instead of "are occasionally more"?

You can use phrases like "are sometimes greater", "are seldom greater", or "are rarely more" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "are occasionally more" instead of "are often more"?

"Are occasionally more" is suitable when the increase is infrequent and irregular. If the increase happens frequently, "are often more" would be more accurate.

Is there a difference between "are occasionally more" and "are sometimes more"?

While similar, "are occasionally more" suggests a slightly lower frequency than "are sometimes more". The choice depends on the specific context and the degree of infrequency you want to express.