but sometime

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but sometime" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "but sometimes," which is used to indicate that something occurs occasionally or at certain times. Example: "I enjoy going for walks, but sometimes I prefer to stay indoors and read a book."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Maybe not today, but sometime soon.

The New York Times

But sometime around 1955 the situation began to reverse.

The New Yorker

Well, evidently not this time -- but sometime soon.

The New York Times

But sometime in the 1990s, a mental shift occurred.

The New York Times

But sometime this spring, the block will be transformed.

The New York Times

But sometime in his waning years he saw the light.

The New York Times

But sometime between then and now, habits changed.

The New York Times

But sometime in the late '80s, fashion discovered semiotics.

The New York Times

But sometime around 1100, a dark age descended.

The New York Times - Science

But sometime after the next election, you will ultimately see Republican nominees in favor of it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But sometime between 1900 and 1903, a production staged by Petipa was recorded in dance notation.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "sometimes" instead of "sometime" to indicate that something happens occasionally. For example, "I like to cook, but sometimes I order takeout".

Common error

Avoid using "sometime" when you mean "sometimes". "Sometime" refers to an unspecified point in time (e.g., "Let's meet sometime next week"), while "sometimes" indicates occasional occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but sometime" functions as an incorrect conjunction phrase. The intention is to express a contrast combined with an indication of time, but it fails grammatically. Ludwig AI confirms that the usage is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but sometime" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. The intended meaning is typically to express contrast with occasional occurrence, but the correct form is "but sometimes". While the phrase appears in varied sources, including some authoritative ones, its use is infrequent, and Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect. It's crucial to use "sometimes" to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but sometimes

Replaces "sometime" with the correct adverb "sometimes", indicating occasional occurrence.

but occasionally

Substitutes "sometime" with "occasionally", offering a more formal synonym for "sometimes".

but from time to time

Replaces "sometime" with the idiomatic phrase "from time to time", emphasizing the intermittent nature of the event.

but at times

Offers "at times" as a substitute, highlighting specific instances when something happens.

but now and then

Uses "now and then" instead of "sometime", providing a more casual expression for infrequent events.

but periodically

Replaces "sometime" with "periodically", indicating that something occurs at regular intervals.

but once in a while

Substitutes with the phrase "once in a while", suggesting a less frequent occurrence.

but on occasion

Offers a more formal alternative, "on occasion", to express something happening infrequently.

but at certain times

Replaces "sometime" with a more descriptive phrase, specifying that the event occurs at particular moments.

but every so often

Uses "every so often" instead of "sometime", indicating irregular but repeated occurrences.

FAQs

What's the correct way to use "sometime" in a sentence?

"Sometime" refers to an unspecified time. For example, "Let's meet sometime next week". Be careful not to confuse it with "sometimes", which means occasionally.

Is "but sometime" grammatically correct?

No, "but sometime" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrase to use when you want to express 'occasionally' is "but sometimes".

What can I say instead of "but sometime"?

Use "but sometimes", "but occasionally", or "but at times" to convey that something happens from time to time.

What is the difference between "sometime", "sometimes", and "some time"?

"Sometime" (one word) means 'at an unspecified time'. "Sometimes" (one word) means 'occasionally'. "Some time" (two words) means 'a period of time'. For example, "I need some time to finish this project; let's discuss it sometime next week. Sometimes I work late into the night".