at three instances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at three instances" is not correct in standard written English.
You can use it when referring to specific occurrences or examples, but the correct expression would be "in three instances." Example: "In three instances, the data showed a significant increase in performance."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Outcome measures were taken at three instances, at baseline (pre), after 1.5 weeks (mid) and at the conclusion of the 3 week program (post).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

At two instances, Mr. Morris constructs duets to silence.

The New York Times - Arts

Corburn looks at four instances of street science in Greenpoint/Williamsburg, where community members and professionals combined forces to address the risks from subsistence fishing from the polluted East River, the asthma epidemic in the Latino community, childhood lead poisoning, and local sources of air pollution.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Two-dimensional snapshots at five instances are displayed in the right columns.

Earth, Planets and Space

The team identified 29,857 regions on the genome that respond to regulatory proteins and then tracked levels of activity at six instances during the differentiation.

Science Magazine

I predict that we are about to go deeper, and so we shall, taking a look at four instances of lives ruined by Mitt Romney and his insatiable quest to remodel his homes.

Huffington Post

Cross-correlation of concomitant images [16] is performed based on snap shots of the flow scenario at two instances dictated by a measurement interval that is dependent on the speed of the flow.

Plosone

He said he knew of "at least three" instances where the U.S. had rendered suspected militants from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan.

The New Yorker

Further complications arose due to conflicts between NSB Gardermobanen and the construction company, Scandinavian Rock Group, with the latter at one instance stopping work for three weeks while the parties quarreled in court.

Wikipedia

Hammering out squelched, funk-dappled notes that recalled 'Bitches Brew'-era Chick Corea at one instance or flickering, twilit atmospherics the next, Peralta sounded like every bit of the next big thing".

Los Angeles Times

We were able to detect, at one instance, one erythrocyte infected with malaria parasite in a Takaboh specimen obtained in September 2008 (Figure 1), but detection was unsuccessful from the other samples.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer the phrase "in three instances" for grammatically correct and widely accepted usage.

Common error

Avoid using "at" when "in" is grammatically correct. Using "at" with "instances" is not standard English.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at three instances" functions as an adverbial phrase, attempting to specify frequency or occurrence. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically dubious and should be avoided in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at three instances" appears in some published sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect. The preferred and more widely accepted phrasing is "in three instances". This correction is crucial for maintaining grammatical accuracy and credibility in both formal and informal writing. Consider alternative phrasings like "on three occasions" or "in three cases" for greater clarity and adherence to standard English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in three instances

Uses the preposition "in" which is the grammatically correct choice instead of "at".

on three occasions

Replaces "instances" with "occasions", providing a more formal tone and a different nuance.

in three cases

Substitutes "instances" with "cases", making it suitable for legal or analytical contexts.

on three separate occasions

Adds emphasis on the separateness of the occasions.

across three occurrences

Emphasizes that the action or state spanned three distinct occurrences.

at three different times

Replaces "instances" with "times", focusing on specific points in time.

on three counts

Uses "counts" to refer to specific charges or points.

during three events

Specifies that the occurrences happened during particular events.

throughout three periods

Implies that the occurrences were spread out over three distinct periods.

over three iterations

Suggests that the occurrences happened repeatedly across three cycles.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "at three instances"?

The correct phrasing is "in three instances". Using "at" in this context is grammatically incorrect.

Can I use "at three instances" in formal writing?

No, it's best to avoid "at three instances" in formal writing. Use "in three instances" or "on three occasions" instead.

What are some alternatives to "at three instances"?

You can use alternatives like "in three cases", "on three occasions", or "in three instances".

Is there a difference between "at three instances" and "in three instances"?

Yes, "in three instances" is the grammatically correct and preferred phrasing. "At three instances" is considered incorrect.