at irregular times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at irregular times" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe events or actions that occur unpredictably or without a fixed schedule. Example: "The train arrives at irregular times, making it difficult for passengers to plan their journeys."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Like many others, he takes steps to limit his exposure, traveling at irregular times, exchanging his BMW for a less conspicuous car.

The New York Times - Magazine

Far from impeding or postponing the development of activity-based anorexia, presenting food at irregular times resulted in a pronounced body-weight loss, a low food intake and an increase in locomotor activity.

Behavioural Processes

The estimation scheme we propose will allow for estimation even in the case that the longitudinal data are sparsely observed at irregular times and may be corrupted by noise.

Computational Statistics & Data Analysis

Cable hits like The Sopranos and Sex and the City proved that audiences would wait for a long time between installments of prestige shows and they could work at irregular times, including the spring, where the Sopranos premiered during its third, fifth, sixth and seventh (well, the second half of their sixth) seasons.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Migration can be contrasted with emigration, which involves a change in location not necessarily followed by a return journey; invasion or interruption, both of which involve the appearance and subsequent disappearance of great numbers of animals at irregular times and locations; and range expansion, which tends to enlarge the distribution of a species, particularly its breeding area.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In this graph, any node can be reached at irregular times.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Also, the fact that these data are usually sampled at irregular time points adds in another layer of complexity.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The CHI model is developed in [7] which specifically utilizes the monotonicity of disease progression to enhance the data fusion of multivariate clinical measurements taken at irregular time points.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

If data had been collected at irregular time-points, our methodology may not be appropriate.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

This model allows for a more complete use of EDSS scores collected at irregular time intervals both in the BCMS and RSS cohorts.

BMJ Open

Further, the data measured at irregular time intervals (12 hr difference in last two measurements) also created a problem in optimization and led to relatively poor fit at later time points.

BMC Systems Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing schedules or routines, use "at irregular times" to clearly indicate a lack of fixed timing, providing specific examples to illustrate the unpredictability. For example, "The shuttle service operates "at irregular times", with intervals ranging from 30 minutes to over an hour."

Common error

Don't confuse "infrequent" with "at irregular times". "Infrequent" implies that something happens rarely, but it could still happen on a schedule (e.g. once a month). "At irregular times" specifically means there's no predictable schedule.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at irregular times" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action occurs. It specifies that the action happens unpredictably, without a fixed schedule, as evidenced in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at irregular times" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that serves as an adverbial phrase, indicating that something occurs without a predictable schedule. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's applicable across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While not overly frequent, its consistent usage and clear meaning make it a valuable tool for conveying unpredictability in timing. Common errors include confusing it with "infrequent", which only denotes that something happens rarely. Consider also using alternatives like "sporadically" or "at unpredictable intervals" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at unpredictable intervals

Emphasizes the lack of a consistent pattern in the timing of events.

sporadically

Single-word adverb that conveys the idea of infrequent and irregular occurrences.

at varying times

Highlights the different times at which events can occur.

intermittently

Describes actions that stop and start at irregular intervals.

without a fixed schedule

Focuses on the absence of a set routine or timetable.

on occasion

Highlights the infrequency and unpredictability of events.

from time to time

Indicates that something happens sometimes, but not regularly.

now and then

Similar to "from time to time", suggesting occasional occurrences.

randomly

Suggests that events occur without any discernible pattern or intention.

erratically

Conveys a sense of inconsistency and unpredictability in behavior or timing.

FAQs

What does "at irregular times" mean?

The phrase "at irregular times" means that something happens at unpredictable intervals or without a fixed schedule. The timing is not consistent or regular.

What can I say instead of "at irregular times"?

You can use alternatives like "sporadically", "intermittently", or "at unpredictable intervals" depending on the context.

How do I use "at irregular times" in a sentence?

Use "at irregular times" to describe events or actions that don't follow a regular schedule. For example, "The bus service runs "at irregular times", so check the schedule carefully".

Is it better to say "at irregular times" or "at random times"?

Both phrases suggest unpredictability. "At irregular times" emphasizes the lack of a fixed schedule, while "at random times" implies a lack of pattern. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.