at reasonable intervals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at reasonable intervals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or events that occur periodically and with a sense of appropriateness in timing. Example: "The maintenance team should check the equipment at reasonable intervals to ensure everything is functioning properly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Case Farms says it allows bathroom breaks at reasonable intervals, but workers in North Carolina told me that they must wait so long that some of them wear diapers.

The New Yorker

Rather it highlights the importance of open-mindedness on the part of clinicians to all treatment options and the need to re-evaluate the effectiveness of any treatment at reasonable intervals.

The New York Times

Article 3 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights, which is now incorporated into our law by the Human Rights Act, commits states "to hold free elections at reasonable intervals by secret ballot, under conditions which will ensure the free expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature".

The Guardian - Opinion

The boundaries of cylinder model are asynchronous with the scavenging and exhausting manifolds by abandoning cylinder cycles at reasonable intervals so that the time can be reduced further.

Applied Energy

By analyzing the interesting pictures at reasonable intervals using an image analysis software, the evolutions of microstructural features were obtained such as the orientations of the long axes of particles, the orientations of contact normals between particles and the average contact number of the interesting group of particles.

Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

7. Keep Us Posted: At reasonable intervals, after we've submitted our proposa to you, be willing to let us know where things stand.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

In its report on 27 August 1966, the Commission recommended entrenching the right to vote as a "fundamental right" in the form of "the right to elect a government of their choice as expressed in general elections held at reasonable periodic intervals by secret vote".

Wikipedia

Five years is not a reasonable interval.

The New York Times

Although the effects for men are (just) significant at the 90% confidence interval, those for women are not significant at any reasonable confidence interval.

IZA Journal of Migration

Wine specials, at reasonable prices, change monthly.

The New York Times

All at reasonable prices.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If the situation allows or the frequency is critical to the operation/process, then explicitly state what reasonable intervals are. For example, "every hour" or "twice a day".

Common error

Avoid using "at reasonable intervals" without defining what 'reasonable' means in your specific context. Otherwise, you risk misinterpretation or inconsistent application. Provide additional context or examples to ensure the intended meaning is clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at reasonable intervals" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying when or how often an action should be performed. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is commonly used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at reasonable intervals" is a versatile adverbial phrase indicating that actions should be performed periodically, with the timing adjusted to suit the circumstances. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. The phrase appears most frequently in news, scientific writing, and on wikis. When using "at reasonable intervals", writers should ensure that the meaning of "reasonable" is clear within the context, specifying the timing to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "at appropriate times" or "at regular intervals" can also be considered based on the specific intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at suitable intervals

Similar to "at appropriate times", but puts the emphasis on compliance and fitness.

at regular intervals

Emphasizes the consistent spacing of the actions, removing the judgement call implied by "reasonable".

at appropriate times

Focuses on the suitability of the timing, instead of the spacing between occurrences.

at regular times

Specifies that intervals occur with consistent timing, instead of a more ambiguous reasonableness.

periodically

This is a single word capturing the essence of the query, meaning something that happens from time to time, but is less specific about the rationale.

at appropriate frequencies

Replaces the concept of intervals with frequencies, which implies a numerical measure.

as needed

Implies intervals are determined by requirements rather than predetermined spacing.

when necessary

Similar to "as needed", focusing on the necessity rather than fixed periods.

every so often

Informal phrase which signifies occurrence from time to time. It is less precise or rigorous than the query.

from time to time

This phrase means occasionally or at infrequent intervals, being less specific and imposing less rigor than "at reasonable intervals".

FAQs

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

The phrase "at reasonable intervals" is used to describe actions or events that should occur periodically, with the timing being appropriate for the situation. For example, "The equipment should be inspected "at reasonable intervals" to ensure it's functioning correctly."

What's a good alternative to "at reasonable intervals"?

Alternatives include "at appropriate times", "at regular intervals", or "periodically", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

What does "reasonable" mean in "at reasonable intervals"?

The term "reasonable" implies that the timing isn't fixed but should be appropriate and justified based on the context. This could depend on factors such as cost, urgency, or practical considerations.

How do I determine what constitutes "reasonable intervals"?

Consider the factors that influence the required frequency. For example, if you're checking equipment, think about how often it's used and the potential consequences of failure. If it's a recurring meeting, consider the progress needing to be made between meetings.