at isolated intervals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at isolated intervals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe occurrences that happen sporadically or infrequently over a period of time. Example: "The rain fell at isolated intervals throughout the day, making it difficult to plan outdoor activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Wong et al. have shown that oral swabbing can be used to detect virus and shedding in guinea pigs at isolated intervals after infection (9 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We acknowledge that this approach is not flawless, but it appears reasonable, and there is no other means of estimating declinations at isolated locations during the sixteenth- to seventeenth-century time interval.

Earth, Planets and Space

Queues formed yesterday at isolated filling stations throughout the country.

The Guardian - Business

The Insular manuscripts were produced at isolated and inaccessible monasteries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Besides, tangent lines are not well defined at isolated points.

Advances in Difference Equations

Local bifurcations occur at isolated values of this parameter.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience (JMN)

But anger is directed at isolated negatives.

Huffington Post

Most importantly, ant workers chased and snapped at isolated silverfish more frequently than at non-isolated silverfish.

BMC Ecology

Experienced collectors know, and recent buyers with a sound instinct suspect, that the market for the art of the past as it existed until recently will inevitably draw to a close in the foreseeable future, giving place to a few isolated transactions at distant intervals.

The New York Times - Arts

Space the pairs apart at even intervals.

WikiHow

At regular intervals, the integrity of isolated DNA was evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis performed on randomly selected isolates.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at isolated intervals", ensure that the context clearly communicates the sporadic and infrequent nature of the occurrences. This phrase works best when emphasizing the separation between events.

Common error

Avoid using "at isolated intervals" excessively in formal or academic writing where more concise adverbs like "sporadically" or "infrequently" might be more appropriate. The phrase can sometimes sound verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at isolated intervals" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the timing or frequency of an action. It specifies that something occurs sporadically rather than continuously or regularly, as supported by Ludwig's findings.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at isolated intervals" is an adverbial phrase used to describe events that occur sporadically and infrequently. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable, although less common than alternatives like "sporadically" or "infrequently". It finds use across both science and news media, though more concise wording might be favored in highly formal contexts. When employing this phrase, make sure to emphasize the sporadic nature of the occurrences you are describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at odd intervals

Replaces "isolated" with "odd", implying irregularity.

at random intervals

Specifies that the intervals are unpredictable and without pattern.

infrequently

Replaces the phrase with a single, direct adverb.

sporadically

Changes a multi-word phrase into a single adverb.

occasionally

Offers a more common and simpler adverb with similar meaning.

at scattered times

Employs "scattered" to emphasize the irregular distribution.

at infrequent times

Rephrases using "times" instead of "intervals" for a slight variation.

once in a while

Suggests a less frequent occurrence using a common phrase.

now and then

Presents an idiomatic expression for occasional events.

from time to time

Indicates irregular occurrences, possibly more frequent than "at isolated intervals".

FAQs

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

Use "at isolated intervals" to describe events or actions that occur sporadically and infrequently, emphasizing the separation between occurrences. For example: "The signal appeared "at isolated intervals", making it difficult to track accurately."

What are some alternatives to "at isolated intervals"?

Alternatives include "sporadically", "infrequently", or "occasionally". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "at isolated intervals" a formal or informal expression?

"At isolated intervals" is relatively neutral in tone, but can sound somewhat verbose. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but more concise options might be preferred in very formal writing.

How does "at isolated intervals" differ from "at regular intervals"?

"At isolated intervals" indicates irregular and infrequent occurrences, whereas "at regular intervals" implies consistent and predictable timing. The opposite of at isolated intervals is "at regular intervals".