at infrequent intervals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at infrequent intervals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or events that occur rarely or not often. Example: "The train runs at infrequent intervals, making it difficult for commuters to plan their journeys."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

They perform only at infrequent intervals now.

The New Yorker

Repeated chaining at short intervals, or prescribed burning at infrequent intervals, will likely favor juniper dominance.

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Chaining at infrequent intervals (> 20 40 yr) will likely result in regained dominance of pinyon.

Rangeland Ecology & Management

However, in my experience, changing hard drives, upgrading graphics cards and adding memory at infrequent intervals does not.

The Guardian - Tech

In today's hospitals, clinically-relevant measurements, such as heart rate and blood pressure, are usually only recorded at infrequent intervals.

Harvard University

Refueling engines required only pumping heavy fuel oil at infrequent intervals; locomotives frequently ran coast-to-coast with only changes of crew and refueling.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

As anyone who has attended a high school reunion knows, people themselves don't need to have been doing anything particularly interesting in order for their lives to generate interest, so long as you run into them at infrequent enough intervals.

The New York Times - Books

Headache can be either mild and at infrequent intervals, or severe and enduring.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Standardizing adherence metrics may facilitate comparisons across studies of health behaviors practiced at infrequent yet repeated intervals.

Duke University

In contrast to most standard hydrologic monitoring methods, this approach measures conditions over a large, continuous geographic domain, but at relatively infrequent time intervals.

Environmental Management

A multiple baseline across-groups design was used to assess the impact of infrequent (at gradually increasing intervals), publicly posted housekeeping feedback on the housekeeping level.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the frequency of events or actions, consider whether "at infrequent intervals" accurately conveys the intended rarity. If more precision is needed, specify the typical time between occurrences.

Common error

While "at infrequent intervals" is grammatically sound, it can sometimes sound overly formal or complex. In more casual writing, simpler alternatives like "occasionally" or "rarely" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at infrequent intervals" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate how often an action occurs. As shown by Ludwig, it indicates that the action happens only occasionally.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

35%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at infrequent intervals" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe events or actions that occur occasionally. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples from varied sources. While versatile, it tends towards a neutral register and is frequently encountered in science, news, and academic contexts. For more casual writing, simpler alternatives like "occasionally" or "rarely" can be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at irregular intervals

This alternative uses the same structure as the original phrase but emphasizes the unpredictable nature of the gaps between occurrences.

occasionally

This alternative is a single-word adverb that directly conveys the idea of something happening now and then.

sporadically

This alternative emphasizes the irregular and scattered nature of occurrences.

seldom

This is a more formal and direct adverb meaning rarely or not often.

intermittently

This suggests that actions or events stop and start with pauses in between.

rarely

This simple adverb directly indicates that something does not happen often.

from time to time

This alternative phrase provides a more casual and less formal way to express occasional occurrences.

once in a while

Similar to "from time to time", this is a common idiomatic expression for something happening rarely.

on occasion

This alternative specifies particular instances or events when something happens, implying rarity.

irregularly

This term focuses on the lack of a set pattern or schedule in the occurrences.

FAQs

How can I use "at infrequent intervals" in a sentence?

Use "at infrequent intervals" to describe something that happens sporadically or not regularly. For example, "The doctor recommended check-ups "at infrequent intervals" to monitor the patient's condition."

What are some alternatives to "at infrequent intervals"?

You can use alternatives like "occasionally", "sporadically", or "intermittently" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "at infrequent intervals" or "at irregular intervals"?

Both "at infrequent intervals" and "at irregular intervals" are correct. "At infrequent intervals" suggests that occurrences are not common, while "at irregular intervals" emphasizes that the timing between occurrences varies.

What is the difference between "at infrequent intervals" and "rarely"?

"Rarely" is a direct adverb that means 'not often'. "At infrequent intervals" is a phrase that provides a slightly more descriptive and formal way of expressing the same idea, highlighting that events happen with considerable gaps in between.