at an interval of

USAGE SUMMARY

"at an interval of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe the amount of time that has gone by between two events or actions. For example, "The production team had to make sure the machines restarted at an interval of 10 minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Bursts were delivered at an interval of 5 Hz.

Nature

Anomalies are contoured at an interval of 0.5°C.

Columbia University

Data were collected automatically on the cells at an interval of 1 h.

Nature

Contours on the map are plotted at an interval of 10 Watts/m2.

Columbia University

At an interval of one hour, the system is able to log for 3.8 years.

Cornell University

(b) TBS pulses were delivered in triple bursts, consisting of three magnetic pulses at an interval of 50 Hz.

Nature

Bottom ash was replaced with metakaolin from 0 to 100% at an interval of 25%.

Construction and Building Materials

Percolates were collected at an interval of 5 days and analyzed for DOC and DON.

Geoderma

It seemed difficult to accept that the same person had produced both works, at an interval of several weeks or months.

The Guardian - Arts

Interventions: Patients were assessed twice, at an interval of 7 days, by the same person at the same location.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

After the pretreatment period isoproterenol (100 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected to rats twice at an interval of 24 h.

Chemico-Biological Interactions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at an interval of" to clearly specify the duration or distance between recurring events or objects, ensuring precision in scientific, technical, or medical contexts. For instance, "measurements were taken at an interval of 10 minutes".

Common error

Avoid using "in intervals" when you mean "at an interval of." "In intervals" suggests a process happening during the intervals, while "at an interval of" specifies the space between events. For example, use "samples were collected at an interval of 24 hours", not "in intervals of 24 hours".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at an interval of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, specifying the temporal or spatial separation between two or more occurrences. Ludwig's examples showcase its role in defining the frequency of actions or the spacing of objects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

78%

Academia

12%

News & Media

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at an interval of" is a prepositional phrase primarily used in formal and scientific writing to specify the time or space between recurring events or objects. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. To ensure accuracy, avoid confusing it with similar phrases like "in intervals." When writing, consider the context and choose the best alternative if a more informal tone is appropriate, such as "every" or "separated by." By using "at an interval of" correctly, you can provide precise details about the frequency and spacing of actions or items.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

separated by

Emphasizes the distance or time separating two events or objects.

with a frequency of

Focuses on the rate at which something occurs, often used in scientific contexts.

every

Replaces "at an interval of" to indicate regularity, focusing on the repeated occurrence rather than the specific separation.

with a gap of

Stresses the presence of a distinct break or pause between actions or events.

spaced apart by

Highlights the spatial separation between items, suitable for physical arrangements.

following a break of

Highlights that an action happens after a pause, emphasizing the interruption.

periodically

Indicates that something happens repeatedly at generally regular times, without specifying the duration.

subsequent to a pause of

Similar to 'following a break of', but uses more formal language.

in increments of

Used when something increases or decreases by a certain amount regularly.

on a schedule of

Highlights the systematic nature of the reoccurence and is often used in the context of planned events.

FAQs

How can I use "at an interval of" in a sentence?

Use "at an interval of" to indicate the time or space between repeated events or objects. For example, "The data points were recorded "at an interval of" 5 seconds", or "Markers were placed "at an interval of" 1 meter".

What are some alternatives to "at an interval of"?

You can use alternatives like "every", "separated by", or "with a frequency of", depending on the specific context. Each alternative shifts the emphasis slightly, affecting the nuance of the sentence. See "separated by" or "with a frequency of".

Is it better to say "at an interval of" or "in intervals of"?

"At an interval of" is generally preferred when specifying the consistent duration or distance between occurrences. "In intervals of" suggests the action happens within those intervals. Choose ""at an interval of"" to describe spacing.

How does the formality of "at an interval of" compare to its alternatives?

"At an interval of" is generally suitable for formal and scientific contexts. Alternatives like "every" or "spaced apart by" may be more appropriate for informal settings. The best choice depends on the overall tone of your writing. Use "every" or "spaced apart by" in less formal contexts.