at least once

USAGE SUMMARY

"at least once" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize doing something a minimum of one time. For example, "I have seen the Eiffel Tower at least once in my life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"At least once a week.

The New York Times

"Everyone's cried at least once".

The New Yorker

"It crashed at least once".

The New York Times

Definitely check at least once.

The Washington Post

At least once an hour.

The New York Times

Call home at least once a week.

Forbes

Each experiment was repeated at least once.

Natural Products and Bioprospecting

But at least once".

Huffington Post

Both had been shot at least once.

Los Angeles Times

It convenes at least once a week.

Wikipedia

Ten other men appeared at least once.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing instructions or recommendations, use "at least once" to clearly set the minimum expectation. For example, "Check your email at least once a day."

Common error

Avoid using "at least once" when you mean to convey a habitual or frequent action. Instead, opt for adverbs of frequency like "regularly", "frequently", or "daily" to avoid misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at least once" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates the minimum frequency with which an action or event occurs. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's commonly used to set a lower bound for the number of times something happens.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

40%

News & Media

32%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at least once" is a versatile and commonly used expression that indicates a minimum frequency or occurrence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and can be used in a variety of contexts, from news articles and scientific papers to wikis and everyday conversation. Remember to use "at least once" when you want to emphasize that something should happen a minimum number of times. Be mindful of potential ambiguity, and consider using more specific adverbs of frequency if greater clarity is needed. The many examples show its usage is very common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on at least one occasion

Rephrases the idea with a more formal tone using 'occasion' instead of 'time'.

at a minimum of once

Emphasizes the minimum requirement of a single occurrence.

no less than once

Highlights that the action happens not less than the indicated frequency, that is, once.

at least a single time

Uses 'single time' to emphasize that something happens a minimum of one time.

on one or more occasions

Expresses the idea of the activity occurring on one or multiple instances.

at the very least once

Adds emphasis to the minimum frequency of the activity.

if not more, once

Implies it happened once, and possibly multiple times, if not more.

at a frequency of once or greater

Uses technical terminology to indicate the frequency

a minimum of one time

Changes the order of the words to present similar meaning.

on one or more than one occasion

Expands the phrase to explicitly include more than one occurrence.

FAQs

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

You can use "at least once" to indicate a minimum frequency of an action. For example, "You should exercise "at least once" a week to maintain good health."

What is a more formal alternative to "at least once"?

A more formal alternative to "at least once" is /s/on+at+least+one+occasion, which is suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it redundant to say "at the very least once"?

While not strictly redundant, "at the very least once" adds emphasis. Using simply ""at least once"" is often sufficient and clearer.

What's the difference between "at least once" and "at least twice"?

"At least once" means a minimum of one time, while "at least twice" means a minimum of two times. The key difference lies in the minimum required frequency.