at various times

USAGE SUMMARY

'at various times' is both correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something happens or happened at multiple points in time - not necessarily in a regular pattern. For example: "He worked at various times as a teacher, a mailman, and a cashier."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fridays through Sundays, at various times.

The New York Times

At various times they included Bobby Byrd, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley and Lyn Collins.

The New York Times - Arts

Roosevelt at various times held to both views.

The Guardian - Books

At various times, Raiders walked by and said hello.

The New York Times - Sports

In Texas, hundreds have been closed at various times.

The New York Times

GEORGE PACKER: He has said so at various times.

The New Yorker

At various times, Boulez planned to write an opera.

The New Yorker

Currently, races start at various times to accommodate television broadcasts.

The New York Times - Sports

She is at various times feisty, witty, vapid and unhinged.

The New York Times - Arts

He divorced his first three wives at various times.

The Guardian

Chinese were called, at various times, "rats," "beasts," and "swine".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at various times" to clearly indicate that events or actions occurred on multiple, distinct occasions rather than continuously or simultaneously.

Common error

Refrain from using "at various times" repeatedly within the same paragraph; consider employing synonyms like "periodically" or "intermittently" for stylistic variation and improved readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at various times" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs and indicating when an action or event occurred. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it specifies that something happened on multiple, distinct occasions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at various times" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that events or actions occurred on multiple distinct occasions. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. It enjoys widespread usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academic writing, and is deemed to be neutral in register. While highly prevalent, it's important to avoid overuse and consider synonymous alternatives, such as "on several occasions" or "periodically", to maintain stylistic variation. Remember to clarify the temporal context when employing this phrase to enhance clarity and prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on several occasions

Replaces "times" with "occasions", providing a more formal tone.

on multiple instances

Uses "instances" instead of "times", adding a touch of formality.

at different moments

Substitutes "times" with "moments", implying shorter, more specific instances.

from time to time

Offers a more idiomatic and less formal way of expressing the same idea.

periodically

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adverb, emphasizing a recurring pattern.

intermittently

Suggests irregular intervals between occurrences.

at irregular intervals

Similar to intermittently, suggesting a lack of fixed pattern.

at intervals

Highlights the presence of a time gap between each occurrence.

at sundry times

Uses an archaic word "sundry", significantly changes the tone.

repeatedly

Focuses on the repetition of an event, rather than the specific times.

FAQs

How can I use "at various times" in a sentence?

You can use "at various times" to indicate that something happens or has happened on multiple, separate occasions. For example, "The museum offers guided tours "at various times" throughout the day."

What are some alternatives to "at various times"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "on several occasions", "periodically", or "from time to time", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "at various times" formal or informal?

"At various times" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "at various times" and "sometimes"?

"At various times" emphasizes distinct occurrences, while "sometimes" suggests a less defined or predictable frequency. Using ""at various times"" implies that the events happened on separate, identifiable instances, whereas "sometimes" indicates that events occur occasionally but without a clear pattern.