but second time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but second time" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "I tried it once, but the second time I was more prepared."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"Damages" is still an entertaining thriller, but second time around, some of the thrill is gone.

The New York Times - Arts

Brokeback Mountain was a cultural political event, and more power to it for that, but second time around everything felt forced and false.

The Guardian - Film

He remains committed to the bank's ideals but, second time around, he became more aware of the institution's limitations and felt his ability to make a positive impact had declined.

The Guardian

Education had been a path paved with scholarships (at St Paul's girls' school, London, and Magdalen College, Oxford) and awards (a Nieman fellowship at Harvard), but second time round at Magdalen proved more challenging.

The Guardian

It's like riding on the ghost train: the first time you're spooked, but second time round you know to when to duck so that the dancing skeleton doesn't whack you in the face.

The Guardian

There were high hopes for another highly-successful games but second time round it was a very different story.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But third time round, she's serious.

The Guardian - Music

But first, time for Saturday's regularly scheduled look at the latest polls.

The New York Times

They began using the slogan under Schiano, but first time on the jerseys.

The New York Times

But first time entrepreneurs?

TechCrunch

It was her 10th marathon, but first time running in Baltimore.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for formal communication, substitute "but second time" with more grammatically correct alternatives such as "but on the second occasion" or "however, the second time".

Common error

Avoid using "but second time" in isolation. This phrase requires a subsequent clause to convey a complete thought and avoid ambiguity. Without it, your sentence might come across as unfinished or unclear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but second time" functions as a transitional phrase, typically used to introduce a contrast or an alternative outcome following a previous event. However, it often requires additional context to form a complete and grammatically sound sentence. Ludwig AI detected some grammar issues with this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but second time" serves as a transitional element to highlight a contrast or change in outcome. However, it's grammatically incomplete and requires a subsequent clause for clarity. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, there are grammatical issues with this phrase. For more formal contexts, alternatives like "but on the second occasion" or "however, the second time" are preferable. While "but second time" appears primarily in news and media sources, its infrequent usage suggests careful consideration is needed when incorporating it into writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but on the second occasion

This alternative provides a more formal and grammatically complete version using "occasion" instead of "time".

but the second instance

This option substitutes "time" with "instance" emphasizing a specific occurrence in a more formal manner.

however, the second time

Using "however" adds a stronger contrast compared to "but", highlighting the difference in the second occurrence.

yet, the second time

Similar to "however", "yet" emphasizes a contrast or unexpected element in the second occurrence.

but in the second attempt

Replaces "time" with "attempt", focusing on the effort made during the second try.

but subsequently

Using "subsequently" condenses the phrase, indicating that something followed the initial event.

but afterwards

Similar to "subsequently", "afterwards" indicates a following event but is less formal.

but the next time

This alternative uses "next time", shifting the focus to a future occurrence rather than a past one.

but upon repeating

This construction uses a gerund to describe the action of repeating, making it slightly more formal.

but during the second iteration

Replaces "time" with "iteration", commonly used in technical or iterative processes.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "but second time" in a sentence?

The phrase "but second time" needs to be followed by a clause that completes the thought. For example: "The first time I failed, but the second time I succeeded."

What's a more formal alternative to "but second time"?

Alternatives such as "but on the second occasion" or "however the second time" offer a more formal tone.

Is "but second time" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "but second time" is often considered grammatically incomplete. It's better to use a full clause for clarity. Ludwig AI detected some grammar issues with this phrase.

What is the difference between "but second time" and "the second time"?

"The second time" can stand alone as a subject or part of a clause, while "but second time" requires a preceding statement to create a contrasting sentence. Consider using "on the second attempt" instead.