did once in a while

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did once in a while" is not correct in standard English; it should be "once in a while" or "did it once in a while." You can use it when referring to an action that occurs occasionally or infrequently in the past.
Example: "I did it once in a while when I had the time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That quieted him, for Kenyon, as he knew she knew, did once in a while sneak a puff — but, then, so did Nancy.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Everyone does once in a while.

The New Yorker

For my kids, I do, once in a while, but everything else comes from here".

The New York Times - Magazine

"We need to make it part of their lifestyle rather than something they do once in a while.

The New York Times

And I also did something that I do once in a while which is to stop drinking.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I can play loud, which is something you have to do once in a while," he said.

The New York Times

By Good To Hear There is a Muslim saying that regular constant deeds – however little – are better than ones you may do once in a while.

The Guardian - Tech

It's maybe not the piece that's closest to my heart, but still, it's enjoyable to do once in a while".

The New York Times

When firing an arrow or cannon ball, as you do once in a while, holding down a button lets you follow the projectile in slow motion, controlling its trajectory by tilting the PlayStation 3's motion-sensitive controller.

The New York Times - Tech

The development of specific technical concepts is one of the "extra assignments" I do once in a while.

Science Magazine

It's a good thing to do once in a while, especially if you use the same one for every single site you log into.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "once in a while" without the auxiliary verb "did" for correct grammar when describing occasional occurrences. If you need to use "did", phrase the sentence as "did it once in a while".

Common error

Ensure that you don't add an extra auxiliary verb like "did" before "once in a while" unless you are specifically referring to performing an action. It is more appropriate to say "I go there once in a while" than "I did go there once in a while".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did once in a while" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the frequency with which an action occurred. However, the inclusion of "did" is generally grammatically incorrect, as pointed out by Ludwig, unless emphasizing the action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

24%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "did once in a while" is used to express that an action occurred occasionally. However, as Ludwig highlights, the phrase is generally considered grammatically incorrect unless it's being used to emphasize a past action. Grammatically, it's better to stick to "once in a while" or "did it once in a while". Usage is more frequent in news, media, and wiki contexts, but its incorrectness affects its rating and acceptance in more formal settings. Therefore, choose your words wisely!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally

Single word synonym indicating something happens from time to time.

from time to time

A common idiom for actions that are not regular but happen periodically.

every so often

Similar to 'from time to time', but with a slightly more casual tone.

now and then

An informal way of saying 'occasionally'.

once in a blue moon

Indicates something that happens very rarely.

on occasion

A more formal alternative to 'occasionally'.

at times

Implies that something happens sometimes, but not frequently.

periodically

Indicates that something happens at regular intervals, but not necessarily frequently.

sporadically

Suggests that something happens irregularly and infrequently.

infrequently

Direct antonym of 'frequently', indicating rare occurrence.

FAQs

How should I correctly use "once in a while" in a sentence?

Use "once in a while" to indicate that something happens occasionally. For example, "I visit my parents "once in a while"" is correct, whereas "I did visit my parents once in a while" is generally not, unless you are emphasizing the act of visiting.

What's the difference between "once in a while" and "occasionally"?

"Once in a while" is an idiomatic phrase, while "occasionally" is a single-word adverb. Both mean the same thing – that something happens from time to time – but "occasionally" is generally more formal.

Is it ever correct to say "did once in a while"?

While not standard, "did once in a while" can be used when referring to a specific action that was performed occasionally in the past, even if the phrasing might still sound awkward to some.

What are some alternatives to saying "once in a while"?

Some alternatives include "from time to time", "every so often", "now and then", and "occasionally". The best choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality.