at what often

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at what often" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a fragment that lacks clarity and context, making it difficult to determine its intended meaning. Example: "At what often do you find yourself working late?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And there is continued exasperation from those on the outside at what often feels like a "gated community" of NPOs to which it feels almost impossible to gain access.

The Guardian

As relatives we welcomed seeing inspectors in my dad's care homes, in both good and bad times, although I felt frustrated at what often seemed like a lack of real action.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"I guess what you're hoping, the equivalent of what often resulted at my family's dinner table, was that the argument goes somewhere, that it has legs.

The Guardian

And even if they do manage to find a company willing to spend thousands of dollars getting them a visa, they often wind up trapped working for one company at what is often lower pay than an American worker would get for the same job.

Huffington Post

Those companies sell magazines to the wholesalers at what is often around a 35percentt discount.

The New York Times

These days, the most interesting and eye-catching art books invite us to look at what has often been overlooked -- the omnivorous multiplicity of the aesthetic enterprise.

The New York Times - Books

But, as Jeffrey Toobin recently wrote, courts in recent years have become increasingly merciless in what they consider undue for a woman at what is often a moment of profound crisis, to the point where almost no burden seems too heavy.

The New Yorker

Particularly pronounced has been a tendency in the richer nations of Western Europe to point a finger at what they often see as their poor and unreliable country cousins in the former Communist East.

The New York Times

The man who once got so frustrated at being ignored by the media has become its punch bag – and the frustration is now at what he often sees as the futility of the press.

The Guardian

To be involved in a child or family's life at what is often a crisis point, and being key in developing changes and promoting a good outcome – whatever that might be – is an absolute privilege.

The Guardian

Abbott said he understood people were "always anxious at what's often referred to as selling off the farm" but "no one can buy land unless the person who currently owns the land wants to sell".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "at what often" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "how often" or "at what times" for clarity and precision.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "at what often" when trying to combine a prepositional phrase with an adverb of frequency. Instead, restructure the sentence to use "how often" or specify the circumstances with "at what times" or "under what conditions".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at what often" functions as part of a relative clause attempting to specify conditions or frequency. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically incorrect, and should be replaced with more standard phrasing. See the Ludwig's examples for correct use.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at what often" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While the phrase attempts to inquire about frequency or conditions, it's best to use alternatives such as "how often", "at what times", or "under what circumstances". Authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian do contain instances of the phrase, but these examples should be rephrased for clarity and grammatical accuracy in formal writing. The analysis suggests that aiming for a neutral or formal register and avoiding this phrase altogether will result in clearer and more grammatically sound communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how often

A simpler and grammatically correct way to inquire about the frequency of an occurrence.

how frequently

Focuses on the frequency of an event or action, replacing "what" with "how" to correct the grammar.

how regularly

Similar to "how frequently", but may imply a more structured or scheduled occurrence.

when does it often happen

Rephrases the question to inquire about the timing of frequent events, rather than inquiring 'at what'.

with what regularity

A slightly more formal alternative to "how regularly", emphasizing the consistency of the occurrence.

at what times

Specifies particular points in time when something occurs, rather than general frequency.

on what occasions

Emphasizes specific instances or events when something happens.

under what circumstances

Shifts the focus to the conditions or situations in which something occurs.

at which junctures

A more formal way to refer to specific moments or points in time.

to what extent

Explores the degree or magnitude to which something happens, rather than its frequency.

FAQs

What is the correct way to ask about frequency using "what"?

Instead of using the grammatically awkward phrase "at what often", it's better to restructure your sentence. For example, you can use "At what times does this "often happen"?".

How can I rephrase "at what often" to sound more natural?

To sound more natural, replace "at what often" with alternatives like "how often" or "how frequently". For example, say "How often do you go there?" instead of "At what often do you go there?"

Is "at what often" grammatically correct?

No, "at what often" is not grammatically correct. It's advisable to use phrases like "at what times" or "how often" which are grammatically sound and widely accepted.

What are some alternatives to "at what often" in formal writing?

In formal writing, avoid "at what often". Instead, use precise phrases like "under what circumstances", "on what occasions", or simply "how frequently" depending on the specific context.