at isolated times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at isolated times" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe occurrences that happen sporadically or infrequently. Example: "The system experiences outages at isolated times, which can disrupt service."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Such measurements would be prohibitive over the entire time course of the study, and measurements at isolated time points would likely lead to behavior change in the animals as they are removed from their home cages.

Plosone

These observations highlight an important fact that is often overlooked in studies of obesity: changes of body weight indicate past cumulative energy imbalance and understanding the genesis of body weight differences requires knowledge about this history in addition to measurements made at isolated time points [26].

Plosone

Other matrix molecules, such as aggrecan and fibromodulin, seem to be altered only at isolated time points [ 13, 14].

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Although transient changes in blood pressure and pulse rate were noted at isolated time points for some subjects, none of these findings were judged clinically important.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

We could not detect reasons for increased micronucleus frequencies of individual children at isolated time points such as pathologic laboratory parameters, eating behavior, weight, or dose per weight.

Environmental Health Perspectives

In Section 4, we show that it determines uniquely at least the power functions of rational orders on isolated time scales.

Advances in Difference Equations

Queues formed yesterday at isolated filling stations throughout the country.

The Guardian - Business

But anger is directed at isolated negatives.

Huffington Post

Large regions of unreacted monomers may remain isolated at long times, even for a system which is macroscopically stoichiometric.

Chemical Engineering Science

At times, isolated involvement of the extraocular muscles or diffuse ill-defined orbital infiltration may be seen (Fig. 14) [1, 4, 66, 67].

Insights into Imaging

We cannot allow them to become ever more isolated, at a time when their neighbouring countries are enjoying the possibility of unlimited travel into the European Union.

EU Parlament

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at isolated times" to emphasize that occurrences are not only infrequent but also separated or distinct from one another, rather than part of a pattern.

Common error

Avoid using "at isolated times" in highly formal or technical writing where more precise or sophisticated language may be preferred. Consider alternatives like "sporadically" or "infrequently" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at isolated times" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate when an action or event occurs. It specifies that the action happens sporadically rather than regularly. Although Ludwig doesn't provide direct examples of the phrase, similar constructs confirm its adverbial nature.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at isolated times" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating infrequent and sporadic occurrences. Ludwig's analysis suggests the phrase is grammatically correct, although no exact examples were found. Given its neutral register, it is suitable for various contexts, but more formal settings may benefit from alternatives like "sporadically" or "infrequently". The phrase emphasizes the distinct and separate nature of these occurrences, clarifying they are exceptions rather than the norm. Since there are no authoritative sources for this query, it can be said that the expression is valid but rarely used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sporadically

A single-word adverb that directly replaces the phrase with a focus on irregularity.

infrequently

Highlights the rare nature of the occurrences.

seldom

A concise adverb indicating that something happens rarely.

on occasion

Replaces "at isolated times" with a simpler, more general term for infrequent events.

on rare occasions

Emphasizes the scarcity of the events.

from time to time

Suggests occurrences that are not regular but happen periodically.

now and then

Suggests that events happen occasionally, without a fixed pattern.

every so often

Implies events that occur somewhat randomly and not very frequently.

at irregular intervals

Focuses on the inconsistent timing of the events.

once in a while

Similar to "every so often", indicating a lack of regularity.

FAQs

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

You can use "at isolated times" to describe events that happen infrequently and sporadically. For example: "The system experiences outages at isolated times."

What are some alternatives to "at isolated times"?

Alternatives include "on occasion", "from time to time", or "sporadically".

Is "at isolated times" formal or informal?

"At isolated times" is generally neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but more formal alternatives like "infrequently" may be preferred in some situations.

What does "at isolated times" emphasize about an event?

The phrase "at isolated times" emphasizes that events occur not only infrequently but also as distinct, separate instances rather than part of a regular pattern.