control from time to time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "control from time to time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is managed or regulated occasionally rather than continuously. Example: "The manager decided to control from time to time the workflow to ensure everything was running smoothly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

You have to allow yourself to lose control from time to time".

The Guardian - Film

We usually control the tasks of researchers quite tightly, and then loosen the control from time to time.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

An atom can be synchronous, meaning that it updates the variables it controls in every step of the system, or asynchronous, meaning that it updates the variables it controls from time to time.

BMC Systems Biology

In relation to controls, it would appear that only some Member States carry out controls regularly, in accordance with Regulation 882/2004 on official controls on food and feed, while others carry out controls from time to time.

European Parliament

The targets for risk factors control change from time to time.

BMC Medical Education

Check the parental control settings from time to time to make sure they haven't been changed.

WikiHow

"Our controls identified from time to time problems with this trader's portfolio," Mr. Mustier said, although he declined to say when the first questions were raised by risk managers, saying that the bank's auditors were still investigating.

The New York Times

All of us face self-control problems from time to time.

Latin American Economic Review

A data-management expert performed quality-control checks from time to time to ensure accuracy of the recorded data.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Even in cotton fields where the insect has been considered eradicated (e.g. Mississipi State USA), the growers must maintain a continued vigil because of the tremendous ability of the boll weevil to return to previous controlled regions from time to time to re-infest.

BMC Biotechnology

Attempts to shake Egyptian Coptic control were made from time to time, but it was not until 1929 that a compromise was effected: an Egyptian monk was again appointed abuna, but four Ethiopian bishops were also consecrated as his auxiliaries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "control from time to time" to indicate a deliberate but not constant management approach, implying that the controlled aspect doesn't require continuous attention.

Common error

Avoid using "control from time to time" too frequently in a single piece of writing, as it can make the text sound repetitive. Use synonyms or rephrase sentences to vary your language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "control from time to time" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb, indicating when or how often the action of controlling occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "control from time to time" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression that specifies intermittent management or regulation. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and suggests it is applicable in various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific writing. It is important to use it judiciously to avoid redundancy and to consider synonyms such as "occasionally manage" or "periodically regulate" for stylistic variation. Understanding its purpose and frequency, as well as avoiding overuse, will improve the clarity and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regulate from time to time

Synonymous, but focuses on the aspect of regulation rather than overall control.

exercise intermittent control

Highlights the act of exerting control, but only at intervals rather than continuously.

occasionally manage

Emphasizes the occasional nature of the management or regulation, focusing on the action of managing.

apply control at intervals

Focuses on the application of control with specific breaks or spaces in between.

periodically regulate

Highlights the periodic aspect of regulation, suggesting a planned or scheduled approach.

monitor intermittently

Focuses on the discontinuous nature of the monitoring, highlighting the gaps in observation.

sometimes supervise

Simple and direct, indicating that supervision occurs, but not consistently.

sporadically oversee

Implies an irregular and infrequent oversight, often in response to specific needs or events.

check in on it now and then

More informal, suggesting a casual and less structured form of monitoring.

keep tabs on something every so often

Informal expression emphasizing the infrequency and casualness of monitoring.

FAQs

How can I use "control from time to time" in a sentence?

You can use "control from time to time" to indicate that something is managed or regulated occasionally rather than continuously. For example: "The manager decided to "control from time to time" the workflow to ensure everything was running smoothly."

What are some alternatives to "control from time to time"?

You can use alternatives like "occasionally manage", "periodically regulate", or "sporadically oversee" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "control from time to time"?

Yes, the phrase "control from time to time" is grammatically correct and understandable in English. It indicates an action that occurs intermittently.

What does "control from time to time" imply about the nature of the control?

It implies that the control is not constant or continuous but rather applied at intervals. This suggests that the situation or object being controlled doesn't require constant attention.