brief occasionally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "brief occasionally" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of providing short updates or summaries at irregular intervals. Example: "During the project, the team will brief occasionally to ensure everyone is on the same page."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr. Becker kept his solos flinty and brief, occasionally yielding the guitar spotlight to the musical director of the tour, Jon Herington.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

While Mr. Ashcroft has been briefed occasionally on the progress of the investigation, Justice Department officials have stressed that the unfettered authority of Mr. Dion and his staff were critical to ensuring the fairness and independence of the investigation.

The New York Times

Mr. Reid looked down during much of the brief hearing, occasionally reading a copy of the indictment one of his lawyers held.

The New York Times

Dressed in a beige suit and a white skullcap, Mr. Afzali kept his eyes downcast through much of the brief hearing, occasionally looking to his lawyer for guidance or reaching up with a tissue to wipe away tears.

The New York Times

At the thought of a life with one leg and hooked up to a dialysis machine, "I decided — too much," he writes in "Too Soon to Say Goodbye," his brief, moving, occasionally hilarious chronicle of a death postponed.

The New York Times - Books

ALBANY — The State Senate confirmed Jonathan Lippman as the new chief judge of New York State's highest court on Wednesday after a brief but occasionally noisy session during which several senators expressed dismay that the judicial-selection process did not produce a more diverse set of candidates.

The New York Times

Through the blog and Twitter, Walker blends astute analysis of issues with a raw candour about her personal experience of bipolar disorder, often posting brief and occasionally harrowing descriptions of how the illness is affecting her on any given day, including suicidal thoughts.

The Guardian

Norval Marley's war record however, casts a brief and occasionally bright light on his story.

BBC

This debate over the validity of N. hatcheri stems largely from inadequately brief and occasionally incorrect descriptions of the specimen, incomplete documentation of restoration on the skull, and differing opinions among ceratopsid workers.

Plosone

In some cases, it consists of only an oral briefing, but occasionally there are written submissions, as well.

The Washington Post

"It was great fun". As an attorney, he conducts research on complex civil litigation, helps prepare briefs and occasionally argues cases on appeal.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "brief occasionally" when you want to emphasize that something happens quickly and not very often. It's suitable for describing events, interactions, or appearances that are both short in duration and infrequent.

Common error

Avoid using "brief occasionally" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like "shortly sometimes" or "fleetingly at times" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brief occasionally" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying how an action or event occurs. It indicates both the duration (brief) and frequency (occasionally) of the action. Ludwig provides examples where it modifies verbs, adding detail about the manner and timing of the action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "brief occasionally" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating that something happens for a short duration and infrequently. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. While not extremely common, it's suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and general communication. To avoid repetition, consider alternatives like "shortly sometimes" or "fleetingly at times". Remember to use "brief occasionally" when you want to emphasize the brevity and infrequency of an event or action, providing a nuanced and descriptive detail to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

briefly from time to time

Substitutes "occasionally" with the more common "from time to time" while retaining "brief".

shortly sometimes

Replaces "brief" with "shortly" and "occasionally" with "sometimes", altering the flow slightly.

shortly every so often

Uses "every so often" as a more casual substitute for "occasionally".

fleetingly at times

Uses more evocative words to describe the temporary and infrequent nature of the action.

momentarily now and then

Replaces both words with synonyms focusing on the temporary and intermittent aspect.

quickly on occasion

Emphasizes the speed of the action instead of its length.

in short spans intermittently

This focuses more on the period of short duration and the intermittent aspect.

for a short period intermittently

More formal and descriptive, highlighting the duration and frequency.

in short bursts sporadically

Focuses on the sudden and irregular nature of the occurrences.

for a little while sometimes

More informal and conversational.

FAQs

How can I use "brief occasionally" in a sentence?

You can use "brief occasionally" to describe actions or events that happen for a short time and not very often. For example, "During the presentation, he would "brief occasionally" on the project's progress".

What are some alternatives to "brief occasionally"?

Alternatives to "brief occasionally" include phrases like "shortly sometimes", "fleetingly at times", or "briefly from time to time".

Is "brief occasionally" formal or informal?

"Brief occasionally" is generally considered neutral in formality. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal options like "for a short period intermittently" exist for highly professional writing.

What is the difference between "brief occasionally" and "occasionally brief"?

"Brief occasionally" emphasizes the short duration combined with the infrequent nature of something, while "occasionally brief" puts more emphasis on the infrequency, with the brevity as a secondary characteristic. For instance, "He would "brief occasionally"" suggests quick, infrequent updates, whereas "His speeches were "occasionally brief"" means they were sometimes short.