at varying intervals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at varying intervals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or events that occur at different times or frequencies. Example: "The maintenance checks are performed at varying intervals to ensure the equipment remains in optimal condition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

It's best to install timers throughout the house to turn interior lights on and off at varying intervals.

The New York Times

The caucuses in Maine take place on Sunday, with sites open at varying intervals throughout the day.

The New York Times

Multiple WDVAX scaffolds are prepared for each patient and surgically implanted in subcutaneous tissues at varying intervals.

Harvard University

At varying intervals after inoculation (0.5-4.0 0.5-4.0 antibiotic thoursy wantibioticed witherapycillin-sulbactam.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

They are still-lifes, essentially, though at varying intervals they are animated by skittering mice, a prowling black cat, and a streaking moth or two.

The New Yorker

In the mixed design, control blocks are intermixed with task blocks, during which trials are presented at varying intervals.

NeuroImage

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Four studies evaluated individuals at multiple time points, and initial evaluations occurred within two months of hospital discharge and follow-up evaluations occurred at widely varying intervals of up to eight years [ 9, 12, 16, 18].

Critical Care

Our study aimed to characterize the risk of severe hypotension at time varying intervals during the course of tamsulosin treatment in middle aged and older men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

British Medical Journal

Cox proportional hazards models estimated rate ratios at time varying intervals during follow-up: weeks 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12 aftamsulosinosinitiationion; weeks 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12 afterestartingng tamsulosin (after a four week gap); and maintenance tamsulosin treatment (remaining exposed person time).

British Medical Journal

These associations must be interpreted with caution due to the unknown and varying interval between attempts at conceiving a child and follow-up.

British Journal of Cancer

Another limitation is that gastrointestinal symptoms vary over time, and this study examined the symptoms only once, at varying time intervals after the diagnosis was set.

BMC Women's Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process with steps that don't always happen at the same rate, use "at varying intervals" to indicate the flexibility in timing.

Common error

Avoid using "at varying intervals" when you actually mean that the method itself is not standardized. The phrase indicates fluctuations in time, not method.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at varying intervals" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when or how often an action occurs. Ludwig shows that it indicates a lack of fixed timing, and events happen repeatedly but not predictably.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

33%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at varying intervals" is a commonly used prepositional phrase that functions adverbially to indicate that something occurs repeatedly, but not at fixed or predictable times. According to Ludwig, this grammatically correct phrase is prevalent in news, scientific, and academic writing. While alternatives such as ""at irregular intervals"" or ""intermittently"" exist, "at varying intervals" precisely conveys the idea of changing time separations, while still sounding relatively formal. It's crucial to differentiate between variations in timing and inconsistencies in methodology when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at irregular intervals

Emphasizes the lack of a fixed pattern in the time separation.

at different time intervals

Highlights the diversity in the amount of time separating events.

at varying timeframes

Replaces 'intervals' with 'timeframes', focusing on the duration of time.

at fluctuating periods

Substitutes 'intervals' with 'periods', suggesting a rhythmic change.

at staggered intervals

Implies that events are intentionally spaced out and not simultaneous.

at inconsistent intervals

Underscores the unpredictability of the timing between occurrences.

periodically, but not regularly

Breaks down the idea into two parts: occasional occurrence and lack of regularity.

at unscheduled times

Highlights that the timing is not pre-planned or fixed.

at random intervals

Indicates that the time separation is completely arbitrary.

intermittently

Offers a concise adverbial form to convey occasional occurrence.

FAQs

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

You can use "at varying intervals" to describe events that occur repeatedly but not at predictable times. For example, "The machine requires maintenance checks "at varying intervals" to ensure its optimal performance".

What are some alternatives to saying "at varying intervals"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "at irregular intervals", "at different times", or "intermittently" as alternatives.

Is it better to use "at varied intervals" or "at varying intervals"?

"At varied intervals" and "at varying intervals" can both be used, but "at varying intervals" is more common. "Varying" emphasizes the process of changing, while "varied" emphasizes the state of being different. Therefore, in most cases, "at varying intervals" is preferable.

What's the difference between "at regular intervals" and "at varying intervals"?

"At regular intervals" implies that events occur at consistent time separations, like every hour or every day. "At varying intervals", on the other hand, means that the time between events changes.