by sporadically

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by sporadically" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that occurs occasionally or at irregular intervals. Example: "The team improved their performance by sporadically reviewing their strategies throughout the season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Where possible, show people that you've been watching by sporadically feeding the terms "D'oh", "Ay caramba" and "Okily-dokily" into your sermons.

The Guardian

Yet it could supply three times that amount.Amid 17-19% inflation, the government of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is trying to control the prices of some locally consumed foodstuffs by sporadically preventing their export.

The Economist

Several players honored Taylor by sporadically holding up two fingers on one hand and one on another, and defensive end Phillip Daniels remarked how the team grew strength from a discovery this week online of an autograph that Taylor signed for a fan in July.

The New York Times - Sports

The service tabulates demographic data by sporadically offering users an offer to participate in an embedded survey.

TechCrunch

You won't reach the type of following that millionaire bloggers tend to have by sporadically writing a post or two.

Huffington Post

Dime began first by sporadically posting skate clips to their site back in 2005, but it wasn't until 2010 with the release of The Dime Store Video that the skateboard world began to take notice of their understated 90s hip-hop/skate aesthetic.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

IL-33 is produced by osteoblasts and sporadically by osteocytes.

Analytical Cellular Pathology

Fort Wright was the forwardmost defensive position on the Mississippi River until July 1861, it was abandoned by the Confederate infantry by 1862 but sporadically occupied by other southern forces during the Civil War.

Wikipedia

"We kept in touch by phone sporadically because she was assigned to go overseas, and I was dispatched to North Carolina," Mr. McCormack said.

The New York Times - Style

Unfortunately for him, this experience was dominated by a sporadically enraged middle manager whose main pleasure in life was to patronize the youthful underlings unlucky enough to enter his personal fiefdom, and who could "do whatever he wanted," which included firing someone for wearing a bow tie.

Vice

Unfortunately for him, this experience was dominated by a sporadically enraged middle manager whose main pleasure in life was to patronise the youthful underlings unlucky enough to enter his personal fiefdom, and who could "do whatever he wanted", which included firing someone for wearing a bow tie.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by sporadically", ensure the context clearly indicates that the action happens irregularly rather than continuously or consistently. For example, "The company increased its social media engagement by sporadically posting interactive content".

Common error

Avoid using "by sporadically" to describe actions that are expected to be continuous or consistent. For instance, avoid saying "The system was updated by sporadically checking for new versions" if the updates should be performed regularly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by sporadically" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the manner in which an action is performed. It specifies that the action occurs occasionally and without a regular pattern. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

44%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by sporadically" is a grammatically sound and usable adverbial phrase that indicates irregular or infrequent occurrence of an action. As confirmed by Ludwig, it finds application across various domains, particularly in news, media, and scientific contexts. While not exceedingly common, its correct usage effectively communicates the intermittent nature of the described event. It is important to ensure the context suits this meaning, avoiding its application to processes that imply regularity. Consider "by occasionally" or "by intermittently" as alternatives to achieve the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by occasionally

Replaces "sporadically" with "occasionally", focusing on the infrequent nature of the action, with less emphasis on the irregularity.

by intermittently

Suggests actions that start and stop at intervals, highlighting the discontinuous nature.

by irregularly

Emphasizes the lack of a fixed pattern or schedule.

by infrequently

Focuses solely on the rare occurrence of the action, without specifying the distribution.

by now and then

An idiomatic expression indicating occasional or infrequent occurrence.

by once in a while

An informal way to express that something happens sometimes but not very often.

by off and on

Indicates that something happens at intervals, sometimes happening and sometimes not.

by every so often

Implies that actions happen periodically, though not on a regular schedule.

by at random intervals

Highlights the unpredictable timing of the actions.

by unsystematically

Highlights the lack of a structured or planned approach.

FAQs

How can I use "by sporadically" in a sentence?

You can use "by sporadically" to indicate that an action happens occasionally or at irregular intervals. For example, "The company improved its employee satisfaction "by sporadically offering" additional benefits".

What's the difference between "by sporadically" and "by occasionally"?

"By sporadically" emphasizes the irregular or inconsistent nature of the action, while "by occasionally" simply indicates that the action happens from time to time without specifying any pattern.

What are some alternatives to "by sporadically"?

Alternatives include "by intermittently", "by irregularly", or "by infrequently", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it formal to use "by sporadically" in writing?

While "by sporadically" is grammatically correct, it may be perceived as slightly less formal than alternatives like "by periodically" or "by intermittently". Consider your audience and the context when choosing the most appropriate phrase.