at least occasionally

USAGE SUMMARY

"at least occasionally" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something happens at the very least occasionally, or more frequently. For example, "I like to get outside and exercise at least occasionally."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or at least occasionally.

The Guardian - Books

And, at least occasionally, cold-blooded murder".

The New York Times

Almost half of the adult population snores at least occasionally.

The New York Times

I don't mind talking to seatmates, at least occasionally.

The New York Times

Half work at least occasionally outside the office.

The New York Times

65percentt question their beliefs at least occasionally.

The New York Times

But now, it seems, he is — at least occasionally.

The New York Times

I expect you to comment at least occasionally on each others homeworks!

Stanford University

They are also known to follow army ants, at least occasionally.

Cornell University

White-eared Hummingbird at least occasionally attempt to raise two broods in a season (Skutch 1940).

Cornell University

This further suggests that the proximal edges of handaxes, at least occasionally, were required as a functional working edge.

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at least occasionally" to indicate a minimum frequency, leaving open the possibility of more frequent occurrences. For example, "We should check the data backups at least occasionally to ensure data integrity."

Common error

Avoid using "at least occasionally" too frequently in your writing, as it can make your statements seem uncertain. Instead, try to provide more specific details about the frequency or conditions, or consider a stronger adverb if appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at least occasionally" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate frequency. As affirmed by Ludwig, it signifies that something occurs sometimes, if not more often. For example, “Half work at least occasionally outside the office.”

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Academia

34%

Science

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at least occasionally" is a versatile adverbial phrase indicating that something occurs sometimes, if not more often. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It enjoys widespread use across news, academic, and scientific contexts. Although it is a common phrase, be mindful of overuse and consider alternatives like "sometimes" or "from time to time" for greater precision or variety. With a solid expert rating, the phrase remains a reliable choice for expressing moderate frequency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from time to time

Indicates something happens periodically but not very often; emphasizes irregularity.

every now and then

Suggests infrequent occurrences; slightly more casual than "at least occasionally".

once in a while

Implies a lower frequency and perhaps a sense of randomness.

sometimes

A simple and direct alternative, lacking the "at least" qualifier.

on occasion

More formal; suggests specific instances rather than regular intervals.

now and again

Similar to "every now and then", but slightly more British in usage.

periodically

Indicates regular intervals, which may or may not be frequent.

sporadically

Suggests irregular and infrequent occurrences; emphasizes lack of pattern.

if ever

Implies a low probability or rare occurrence; emphasizes doubt.

at times

Highlights that something happens during specific moments, not necessarily regularly.

FAQs

How can I use "at least occasionally" in a sentence?

Use "at least occasionally" to indicate that something happens sometimes, with the understanding that it might happen more often than just those times. For example, "I try to visit my parents "at least occasionally", even if I'm busy."

What is a good alternative to "at least occasionally"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "at least occasionally" could include "sometimes", "from time to time", "on occasion", or "every now and then".

Is it more formal to say "at least occasionally" or "sometimes"?

"At least occasionally" and "sometimes" are both relatively neutral in formality. However, ""at least occasionally"" might be perceived as slightly more formal due to its length and structure compared to the simpler "sometimes".

What's the difference between "at least occasionally" and "frequently"?

"At least occasionally" indicates something happens some of the time, whereas "frequently" implies it happens often. "At least occasionally" sets a minimum bound on how often something occurs, while "frequently" indicates a higher probability of occurrence.