at alternating times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at alternating times" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or events that occur in a repeated, alternating pattern over time. Example: "The lights will flash at alternating times to signal the start and end of the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The club meets every second or fourth Monday at alternating times: 1 15 to 2 15 p.m. (second Monday) or 5 30 to 7 p.m. (fourth Monday), in the Radiology Library, at 600 N. Wolfe St., Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We start the process by publishing content at a certain time each week while alternating days, then publish on the same day each week while alternating times.

Forbes

Sure, there are other exercise classes at alternate times.

The New York Times - Travel

When a gravitational wave passes through a location in space, it causes an expansion and a compression at alternate times in alternate directions, causing laser arm-lengths to change in mutually perpendicular orientations.

Forbes

The discussions took place at alternate times for the male and female groups to allow the supervisor to attend both of them and also take notes.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Obviously, cut them at alternate times.

WikiHow

For this purpose, two dual grids are used at alternate time steps.

Journal of Computational Physics

Mortality risk at alternate time points can also be easily computed for specific HSM scores.

Bioinformatics and Biology Insights

Glo-3B and Glo-3C were not found to be expressed in this study at 16 DPA, but further analysis could show their expression at alternate time points.

BMC Plant Biology

I alternated time at home in Tennessee with my parents and time in Atlanta with my new husband.

HuffPost

High resolution Hα images and magnetograms (0.2 arc s) of an active region were obtained in alternating time series at 42 s cadences using the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope on 2004 August 21.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at alternating times", ensure the context clearly establishes the pattern being alternated. For example, specifying the days or intervals can enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "at alternating times" without clearly defining what is alternating. Ambiguity can arise if the reader cannot easily determine the changing elements or the schedule of alternation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at alternating times" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when something occurs. It indicates that an event happens at different times in a recurring pattern. Ludwig provides examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Academia

20%

Science

33%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at alternating times" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase that describes events occurring in a recurring sequence. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While relatively rare in overall usage, it appears across various contexts including News & Media, Academia and Science. To ensure clarity, it's best practice to specify the pattern being alternated. When greater simplicity is desired, "at different times" can act as a valuable substitute.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in an alternating pattern

This alternative is more verbose and emphasizes the existence of a defined pattern.

at different times

This alternative is more general, lacking the specific connotation of a regular pattern.

at staggered times

This alternative emphasizes the irregular spacing of the times.

on alternate occasions

This alternative focuses on the occasions rather than the specific times.

on a rotating schedule

This alternative specifies that a schedule defines the rotation of times.

in rotation

This alternative implies a cyclical pattern of events or actions.

by turns

This alternative suggests a sequential order of events.

every other time

This alternative specifies a pattern of occurrence with a frequency of every two instances.

at varying intervals

This alternative emphasizes the difference in the amount of time between occurrences.

periodically, but not consistently

This alternative conveys a sense of repetition but implies less predictability.

FAQs

How can I use "at alternating times" in a sentence?

You can use "at alternating times" to describe events that occur in a recurring, patterned sequence. For example: "The meetings are held at alternating times to accommodate different schedules."

What are some alternatives to "at alternating times"?

Alternatives include "at different times", "in an alternating pattern", or "on a rotating schedule", depending on the desired emphasis.

Is it more formal to say "at alternating times" or "at different times"?

"At alternating times" implies a specific, regular pattern of changes. "At different times" ("at different times") is more general and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

What does "at alternating times" emphasize?

"At alternating times" emphasizes a recurring sequence with two or more states that change in a consistent order. It highlights the cyclical nature of the events.