at what intervals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at what intervals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring about the frequency or timing of events or actions. Example: "At what intervals do you schedule your meetings throughout the year?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The C.D.C. and N.I.H. should conduct clinical trials to ascertain the optimum dosages and dose schedules (how many doses at what intervals) to prevent flu in that age group.

The New York Times - Health

Which cancers are they getting screened for, and at what intervals?

Johns Hopkins University

Or as Apelt (2014) pointed out, it is unpredictable at what intervals a fire must be extinguished and people must be saved.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

They have the advantage of ensuring predictability and uniformity in operation, as it is known exactly when loads would be executed, and at what intervals.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

We did a little roast beast this year on Christmas, and although it turned out great, there was a huge amount of consternation involving variations in oven temperature, at what intervals to re-baste, and that sort of thing.

TechCrunch

The constituencies for which a studio advance screens a movie, and at what intervals, are as calibrated a part of a movie's release strategy as on which television program to buy advertising time.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

There also need for data about the foods each species eats, including how much should be fed at what interval.

Relational Database Design Clearly Explained

And he challenged Wang to say at what interval she was no longer comfortable with a woman terminating her pregnancy.

The Washington Post

The analysis involved national data on how many women got mammograms and how many did not, at what interval, and what happened subsequently — how many women got cancer and how many women died of cancer.

The New York Times - Health

They must program the computer to recognise at what interval would the player have failed the question and lost a 'life', whether they have plenty or just enough time, and to behave to these conditions appropriately.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

When asked at what interval recurrent medical tests should be conducted (Q5), most chose intervals of between every two and every five years, with the most common answer being every three years (Fig. 3).

European Transport Research Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking about intervals, be specific about what is being measured. For example, instead of "At what intervals should I water the plant?", specify "At what intervals of days or weeks should I water the plant?" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "at what intervals" when referring to a single, continuous event. This phrase is best used when asking about recurring events or actions with defined breaks in between.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at what intervals" functions as an interrogative prepositional phrase. It is used to inquire about the frequency or timing of events or actions. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct, and our examples show that it introduces a question about the space between occurrences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

29%

News & Media

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at what intervals" is a grammatically sound and versatile prepositional phrase used to inquire about the frequency or timing of events. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, the phrase is more suited for neutral to formal settings where precise timing is important. Though less common than its simpler counterpart "how often", "at what intervals" finds its niche in academic discussions, news reports, and scientific inquiries, helping to establish schedules and understand processes. When using this phrase, ensure you are specific about what you are measuring to provide clarity. Alternative expressions like "how frequently" or "with what frequency" can be used, depending on the context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how often

This is a simpler and more common way to ask about frequency, suitable for informal contexts.

how frequently

This is a more direct way of asking about the frequency of something, replacing the prepositional structure with an adverb.

with what frequency

This alternative maintains a similar level of formality, but changes the phrasing slightly.

at which frequency

This alternative shifts the focus slightly, emphasizing the specific frequency rather than the intervals.

at what periodicity

This option introduces a more technical term, "periodicity", suitable for scientific or formal contexts.

on what schedule

This phrase emphasizes a planned or predetermined timing for events.

in what cycles

This phrase suggests a recurring pattern or sequence of events, fitting contexts involving repeated processes.

at what recurrence

Similar to 'periodicity' but applicable in slightly different contexts where events are simply reoccurring.

after what time

This option focuses on the duration between events, emphasizing the timing rather than the repetition.

how repeatedly

This alternative emphasizes the repetition and number of instances within a period, while maintaining a simple phrasing.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "at what intervals" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "with what frequency" or "at what periodicity". These alternatives are suitable for academic or professional contexts.

Is "at what intervals" interchangeable with "how often"?

While similar, "how often" is generally more informal and widely used in everyday conversation. "At what intervals" is suitable for more precise or technical contexts.

How to use "at what intervals" in a sentence about medical checkups?

You might ask, "At what intervals should I schedule routine medical checkups to ensure early detection of potential health issues?"

What's the difference between asking "how frequently" versus "at what intervals"?

"How frequently" is more direct and emphasizes the rate of occurrence. "At what intervals" focuses on the specific time gaps between occurrences, which is suitable for scenarios requiring precise scheduling or measurement.