at various points in time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at various points in time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs at different times or intervals throughout a period. Example: "The project evolved significantly at various points in time, reflecting changes in technology and user needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then it starts decreasing at various points in time: 2015, 2020, 2025 or 2030.

Nature

And one thing that's certain is that you'll need your professors' help at various points in time.

Stanford University

And America's Central Intelligence Agency certainly took intelligence from Gaddafi and worked closely with him at various points in time.

The Washington Post

On a map of the United States, use a color-coded key to identify the positions of the tribe at various points in time.

The New York Times

In addition, the team found that education didn't have a large impact on novel learning, or learning something new at various points in time.

University of California, Berkeley

Reasoning about the program then requires thinking about snapshots of the program state at various points in time, rather than thinking about pure input/output behavior.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

'At various points in time since the early 1970s, oil producers have discussed this, especially in periods when the dollar has been weak.

The Guardian - Business

Recently established techniques for performing in vivo micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) provide the capability of monitoring bone changes in a living animal at various points in time.

Medical Engineering & Physics

Leaked documents highlight that at various points in time, IHMS has tried to bring its commercial obligations more in line with clinical care objectives and they paint a picture of a fraught relationship with the department.

The Guardian

Because a new technology may become available at various points in time during the BART analysis process, we believe that guidelines are needed on when a technology must be considered.

Cornell University

At various points in time it received its huge sweep of mansard towers along 19th — which would be, were they not so well hidden on the narrow side street, one of the sights of New York.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at various points in time" to emphasize that events occurred across a spectrum, rather than at one isolated instance. For instance, "The company adapted its strategy at various points in time to meet evolving market demands."

Common error

Avoid using "at various points in time" when the context already implies temporal distribution. For example, instead of saying "The data was collected at various points in time over the year", simply state "The data was collected over the year".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at various points in time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to specify when an action or state occurred. As Ludwig AI suggests, this indicates that something happens on multiple occasions, not just once.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

27%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at various points in time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, which is employed to denote that an event occurred intermittently or repeatedly. Its prevalence spans scientific, news-related, and academic contexts, indicating its versatility in different styles of writing. While alternatives like "at different times" and "periodically" exist, "at various points in time" provides emphasis on the temporal distribution of the event. To avoid redundancy, it's important to use it judiciously in contexts where the temporal distribution is not already implied.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at different times

This alternative is a more concise and direct way of expressing the same idea.

at various moments

This option substitutes "moments" for "points", offering a slight variation in wording.

from time to time

This phrase implies that something occurs occasionally, without a fixed schedule.

at multiple junctures

This option uses a more formal word choice, "junctures", to suggest specific moments or stages.

at several instances

Using "instances" highlights specific cases or events within a broader timeframe.

at intervals

This option emphasizes the spacing or separation between occurrences.

periodically

This adverb offers a more succinct way to convey that something happens at intervals.

intermittently

This adverb directly communicates the on-and-off nature of occurrences.

on occasion

This alternative indicates that something happens sporadically, not regularly.

at irregular intervals

This phrase stresses the lack of a predictable pattern in the timing of events.

FAQs

How can I use "at various points in time" in a sentence?

Use "at various points in time" to indicate that something occurred or was true during multiple, distinct moments. Example: "The software was updated "at various points in time" to improve performance."

What are some alternatives to "at various points in time"?

You can use alternatives like "at different times", "periodically", or "from time to time" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "at various points in time" and "at different points in time"?

The phrases "at various points in time" and "at different points in time" are largely interchangeable and share a similar meaning. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference.

When is it best to use "at various points in time" instead of a simpler alternative?

Use "at various points in time" when you want to emphasize that the occurrences were spread out and not just a single instance. It adds a layer of detail about the distribution of events.