at unexpected intervals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'at unexpected intervals' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when something happens at irregular and unpredictable times. For example, "The loud barking came from the dog at unexpected intervals throughout the night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

POOR TENNESSEE -- As they cycled on and off at unexpected intervals, the ceiling fans adorning Robert Brill's sets for "A Streetcar Named Desire" became an emblem of the fitful dramatic pulse in Edward Hall's production.

The New York Times

I can still hear her doing the voice of Betsey Trotwood (in the novel David Copperfield): crying out at unexpected intervals, "Donkeys!" As an adult, I have new favourites among his characters.

The Guardian

And in "Attempt to Raise Hell" (1974), he devised a little mechanized marionette, a self-portrait, that smashed its head, at unexpected intervals, into a big cast-iron bell.

The New York Times - Arts

But, even though I have lived outside the north for almost as long as I lived in it, homesickness continues to appear at unexpected intervals, and I miss things I didn't know I missed because I forgot they were normal in the first place.

The Guardian - Opinion

One bellows at unexpected intervals.

Los Angeles Times

Down time can appear at unexpected intervals and when it does, you'll want to make a habit of reading.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Sumptuous harmonies and melodies that make their way through unexpected intervals without ever sounding forced.

The New York Times - Arts

His wit pops out at unexpected angles.

The New York Times - Books

Ask unexpected questions at unexpected times.

Huffington Post

Hook up at unexpected times.

WikiHow

To re-engage audience members during a meeting or presentation, switch gears or surprise them with something unexpected at frequent intervals throughout.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at unexpected intervals" to add emphasis to the unpredictable nature of an event or occurrence. This phrase works well when describing phenomena that do not follow a regular pattern.

Common error

Avoid using "at unexpected intervals" when you mean 'at regular intervals'. The term "unexpected" highlights unpredictability, not consistency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at unexpected intervals" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate when an action or event occurs. It specifies that the action happens periodically, but with no predictable pattern. Ludwig examples show use cases in arts, books and news/media.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Arts

17%

Books

17%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at unexpected intervals" functions as an adverbial phrase used to describe occurrences that are irregular and unpredictable. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase adds emphasis to the lack of a predictable pattern. While grammatically sound and generally neutral in tone, its usage is more common in news and media, arts, and books, according to Ludwig examples. When using this phrase, it's important to differentiate it from similar terms like "at random intervals" or "at regular intervals" to accurately convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unpredictably

This adverb emphasizes the lack of predictability in the timing of occurrences.

intermittently

Replaces the phrase with an adverb emphasizing the stopping and starting nature of the occurrence.

at random times

Focuses on the randomness of the occurrences, rather than their unexpected nature.

irregularly

Substitutes the phrase with an adverb highlighting the lack of a fixed pattern.

sporadically

This alternative replaces the entire phrase with a single adverb, simplifying the expression.

from time to time

Similar to "on occasion" but perhaps implying slightly more frequency.

on occasion

Offers a less precise but similar sense of something happening sometimes but not predictably.

now and then

An informal alternative suggesting occasional but unpredictable instances.

erratically

Suggests a more chaotic and irregular pattern than the original phrase.

out of the blue

An idiomatic expression implying suddenness and lack of warning.

FAQs

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

You can use "at unexpected intervals" to describe events that occur unpredictably, such as, "The phone rang "at unexpected intervals" throughout the night, disrupting my sleep".

What's a formal alternative to "at unexpected intervals"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "sporadically" or "intermittently" instead of ""at unexpected intervals"".

Is it correct to say "at unexpected times" instead of "at unexpected intervals"?

Yes, "at unexpected times" is a valid alternative. However, ""at unexpected intervals"" specifically suggests a recurrence with unpredictable gaps between occurrences, while "at unexpected times" is more general.

What is the difference between "at random intervals" and "at unexpected intervals"?

While both phrases imply a lack of predictability, "at random intervals" suggests a process governed by chance, whereas ""at unexpected intervals"" simply emphasizes the surprise element without necessarily implying randomness.