are sometimes being

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are sometimes being" is grammatically correct but may not be commonly used in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to describe an ongoing action that occurs occasionally, often in passive constructions. Example: "The results of the experiments are sometimes being reviewed by the committee for accuracy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Steam locomotives are sometimes being replaced by older diesel ones.

The Economist

The e-commerce world covered by the Online Shopper column shows how traditional retailers are sometimes being bypassed.

The New York Times - Tech

The stumbles of American Apparel and other SPAC acquisitions also show that these companies are sometimes being brought to market before they are ready.

The New York Times

Supply chains are sometimes being snarled by delays as truckers stop at roadblocks erected by local citizens to check those passing through for signs of the disease.

The Economist

That said, she has called for a moratorium on judging teachers and schools by the first round of assessments, which she fears are sometimes being implemented hastily and without needed support.

The New York Times

"But when emoticons are sent as part of a normal text message, they are sometimes being classified as images, thereby making the message a multimedia one, and the cost of these [MMS messages] is not included in any data packages".

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The placement seemed grimly appropriate, since careers were sometimes being buried along with the departed.

The New York Times - Arts

But it is sometimes being in the right place at the right time".

The Guardian - Film

He said large sums of money were sometimes being paid by prospective parents.

BBC

But, in the name of green jobs, the case is sometimes being stretched too far.

Huffington Post

The message that's sometimes being hidden by the logo and the copy".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are sometimes being", ensure the context clearly indicates an ongoing process that occurs intermittently. This construction works best in passive voice to describe actions being done to something or someone.

Common error

Avoid using "are sometimes being" excessively, as it can lead to wordy and less direct sentences. Consider if an active voice construction would be clearer and more concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are sometimes being" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase indicating an ongoing action that occurs intermittently. It's typically used in passive constructions to show that an action is being performed on a subject at irregular intervals, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are sometimes being" is a grammatically sound construction used to describe actions or states that occur intermittently. According to Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it finds use across diverse fields such as News & Media, Formal & Business, Science, and Wiki. While not as frequent as simpler alternatives, "are sometimes being" effectively conveys an ongoing process that happens occasionally. The primary communicative intent involves describing a condition or action characterized by irregularity, as supported by the examples provided by Ludwig. To ensure effective communication, avoid overuse of this phrase, and when employing it, verify that the context distinctly conveys the intermittent character of the action, especially when used in passive voice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are occasionally being

Replaces "sometimes" with "occasionally" for a slightly more formal tone.

are intermittently being

Uses "intermittently" to emphasize the irregular nature of the action.

are periodically being

Emphasizes that the action happens at specific intervals.

are at times being

Replaces "sometimes" with "at times" for a slightly different emphasis.

are now and then being

Uses a more informal expression to indicate occasional occurrence.

are from time to time being

Offers a more verbose alternative, emphasizing the irregular intervals.

are every so often being

Similar to "now and then" but slightly more emphatic.

are not always being

Focuses on the action not happening consistently, implying it happens sometimes.

are uniquely being

Indicates a distinctive manner and moment.

are specifically being

Indicates specific and focused actions or conditions.

FAQs

How to use "are sometimes being" in a sentence?

Use "are sometimes being" to describe an action that occurs occasionally and is being performed on someone or something. For example: "Mistakes "are sometimes being" made during the process".

What can I say instead of "are sometimes being"?

You can use alternatives like "are occasionally being", "are intermittently being", or "are periodically being" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "are sometimes being"?

"Are sometimes being" is appropriate when describing an action that is in progress and occurs at irregular intervals. It is often used in a passive voice construction.

What is the difference between "are sometimes being" and "are often being"?

"Are sometimes being" indicates that something happens occasionally, while "are often being" suggests that it happens frequently but not always.