dozen of times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'dozen of times' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use this phrase to express multiple repetitions of an action, usually in the context of a number much higher than expected. For example, you could say "I've tried to call him a dozen of times but he never answered".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I've read and reread this at least a baker's dozen of times, with emotions ranging from shock and consternation to resentment and guilt.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He has been arrested dozens of times.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I've seen it dozens of times.

The New Yorker

That happened dozens of times.

The Guardian

- warm up for tournaments dozens of times.

The New York Times

I was challenged dozens of times.

The Guardian - Books

We repeated this scene dozens of times.

The New York Times

It happens dozens of times in a typical game.

The New York Times

They've done that before, dozens of times.

The New York Times

Today, California is dozens of times larger than Wyoming.

The New Yorker

Mr. Beck has invoked Ms. Piven dozens of times since.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, consider using "dozens of times" as it's more common and generally preferred in contemporary English.

Common error

Ensure you're using the intended plural form. "Dozens of times" is the standard expression for multiple instances, whereas "dozen of times" might sound unusual to native speakers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dozen of times" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating frequency. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically acceptable, though the example in Ludwig shows how it is often superseded by more common alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dozen of times" is grammatically sound, though significantly less prevalent than its counterpart "dozens of times". Ludwig's analysis shows it functions as an adverbial phrase to express frequency and appears in neutral contexts like news media. However, due to its rarity, alternatives such as "several times" or "numerous times" are generally preferred for clarity and common usage. Consider "dozen of times" if you specifically want to highlight a single instance of twelve repetitions, but be mindful that most listeners and readers are more familiar with the plural "dozens".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a baker's dozen of times

This alternative refers to a more specific amount, thirteen, adding a quirky touch.

numerous times

This alternative emphasizes that the number of repetitions is high and not precisely counted.

several times

This alternative suggests a few repetitions, less specific than "dozen of times".

quite a few times

This alternative expresses a similar meaning with informal tone.

a number of times

This alternative is a more generic way to express repetition, without specifying the exact quantity.

a good few times

This alternative is less formal, indicating more than a couple of instances.

on several occasions

This alternative is more formal, indicating multiple specific instances.

on multiple occasions

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the repeated nature of the event.

many instances

This alternative emphasizes the occurrences or events in which something happened.

repeatedly

This alternative focuses on the action being done again and again.

FAQs

Is "dozen of times" grammatically correct?

Yes, "dozen of times" is grammatically correct but less common than the more standard phrase "dozens of times".

What's the difference between "dozen of times" and "dozens of times"?

"Dozen of times" implies a single set of twelve repetitions, while "dozens of times" indicates multiple sets of twelve, making it the more frequently used and generally preferred form for expressing numerous repetitions.

When should I use "dozen of times"?

You can use "dozen of times" when you specifically want to emphasize a single group of twelve occurrences, though it's often clearer to rephrase or use "dozens of times" for general repetition.

What are some alternatives to "dozen of times"?

Consider using phrases like "several times", "numerous times", or "repeatedly" to express repetition in a more common way.