arrives occasionally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "arrives occasionally" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something or someone that comes or appears at irregular intervals. Example: "The train arrives occasionally, so it's best to check the schedule before heading to the station."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Earth is under constant bombardment from cosmic rays (mostly atomic nuclei travelling at high velocity) that streak in from deep space, smash into the atmosphere and disintegrate in a puff of radiation and subatomic debris.Though the vast majority of cosmic rays are pale shadows of the things physicists cook up in atom-smashers, a real whopper arrives occasionally.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The vast majority of his patients are taking it when they first arrive, 56% occasionally and 29% daily.

The Economist

Out and about If your aim is simply to get out into the great outdoors you really don't have to do much more than arrive and occasionally fling open the double doors that face out from every single room (even the bathroom).

Independent

I look down and often there are vans arriving and occasionally a police car, and I think: so there is the Gestapo stopping at the house next door and my neighbours are being taken out… Do I lean out of my window and shout?

The Guardian

As a regular who occasionally arrives at his seat only to find ketchup all over it, an usher would come in handy for me as well.

The New York Times

The Shiitake Mushroom Log will yield a new crop every two months for three years indoors or outside, with little care (it must be soaked for 24 hours when it arrives, and misted occasionally); $29.95 from Williams-Sonoma, williams-sonoma.com; [phone].

The New York Times

When he arrives at competitions, people occasionally assume that because he is from Kenya, he must be a runner.

The New York Times - Sports

When I arrived, Short, who occasionally models, was posing for a Harper's Bazaar sketch.

The New Yorker

Drawn mothlike to war and revolution (the Congo, Kenya, Indochina, Malaya, Israel, Haiti, Cuba, Argentina, Panama and Nicaragua), Greene occasionally arrived, as in Vietnam, ahead of most journalists.

The New York Times - Books

But, the site adds: "We understand passengers occasionally arrive at the airport without an ID due to lost items or inadvertently leaving them at home.

The New York Times

Her mother – from a poor family that had crossed from the west of Ireland – had worked in America, whence gifts and visitors would occasionally arrive.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "arrives occasionally" to describe events or people that do not appear regularly but do so at unpredictable times. This provides a sense of informality and unpredictability.

Common error

Avoid using "arrives occasionally" in highly formal or professional writing where a more precise or frequentative adverb might be more appropriate, such as "periodically" or "sometimes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arrives occasionally" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating the frequency of the verb "arrives". It modifies the verb to specify that the action happens at irregular intervals. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "arrives occasionally" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe events or entities that appear or occur at irregular intervals. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is indeed valid English. Predominantly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for a broad audience. When considering alternatives, phrases like "sometimes shows up" or "arrives from time to time" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in formality and emphasis. When writing, ensure its use aligns with the desired tone, avoiding overuse in overly formal settings where more precise adverbs might be better suited.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally comes

Replaces "arrives" with "comes", focusing on the action of appearing rather than the destination.

arrives from time to time

Adds a temporal aspect, specifying that the arrival happens at intervals.

arrives now and then

Similar to "from time to time" but slightly more casual.

periodically appears

Highlights the recurring but not constant nature of the arrival.

comes on occasion

Replaces "arrives" with "comes", using a slightly more formal tone.

sporadically arrives

Stresses the irregular and scattered nature of the arrivals.

arrives at intervals

Focuses on the spaced occurrences of the arrival.

sometimes shows up

Uses more informal language, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the arrival.

infrequently arrives

Emphasizes the low frequency of the arrival.

rarely arrives

Indicates that the arrival is uncommon.

FAQs

How can I use "arrives occasionally" in a sentence?

You can use "arrives occasionally" to describe something or someone that appears irregularly. For instance, "The package "arrives occasionally", so it's best to check the tracking number frequently".

What are some alternatives to "arrives occasionally"?

Alternatives include "sometimes shows up", "periodically appears", or "arrives from time to time". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "arrives occasionally" formal or informal?

"Arrives occasionally" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. For more formal contexts, consider using "periodically arrives" or "infrequently arrives".

What does "arrives occasionally" imply about frequency?

The phrase implies that something happens, but not on a regular or predictable basis. It suggests a lower frequency than "often" or "usually", but more than "rarely" or "never".