every 3 months

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'every 3 months' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about a regular schedule or a regular occurrence that happens every 3 months. For example, "I pay my bills every 3 months".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Checkups were performed every 3 months.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Follow-up has been provided every 3 months.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Downtimes for maintenance may be scheduled every 3 months.

Columbia University

I have been on Lupron every 3 months since.

Harvard University

Databases can be adjusted once every 3 months.

Stanford University

We recommend updating your records every 3 months.

Yale University

A new voucher book is sent out every 3 months.

The Guardian

Safety assessments were made every 3 months.

Duke University

The stats will be updated every 3 months.

TechCrunch

During this period, the patients were checked every 3 months.

Progress in Orthodontics

The patients will continue follow-up schedule every 3 months.

Surgical Case Reports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "every 3 months" to clearly indicate a recurring event or action that takes place four times a year. Ensure the context provides sufficient clarity about the nature of the event.

Common error

Avoid assuming "every 3 months" always refers to calendar quarters (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, etc.). It simply means a three-month period from a starting point, which might not align with standard quarterly divisions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every 3 months" functions as an adverbial phrase of frequency. It modifies a verb by specifying how often an action or event takes place. Ludwig examples show its widespread use in academic, scientific, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

66%

Academia

22%

News & Media

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "every 3 months" is a common adverbial phrase used to specify the frequency of an event, indicating that it occurs at three-month intervals. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. It is particularly prevalent in scientific and academic writing but also appears in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines the event or action being described. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "quarterly" or "once every quarter", depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every three months

Spells out the numerical value.

quarterly

Single-word adjective for occurrences happening every three months.

once every quarter

Expresses frequency using 'quarter' as a unit of time.

at three-month intervals

Uses a more formal tone, emphasizing the regularity of the spacing between occurrences.

every ninety days

Approximates the time frame using a specific number of days.

at intervals of three months

Uses a more formal wording with a slight shift in focus.

three times a year

Reframes the frequency based on the occurrences within a year.

periodically every three months

Adds emphasis on the regularity of the interval with 'periodically'.

on a tri-monthly basis

Uses a less common, slightly more technical adjective.

every season

Related to the seasons of the year.

FAQs

How do I use "every 3 months" in a sentence?

Use "every 3 months" to indicate how often something occurs. For example, "The data is updated "every 3 months"." This specifies that the updates happen at three-month intervals.

What are some alternatives to saying "every 3 months"?

Alternatives include "quarterly", "once every quarter", or "at three-month intervals". The best choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific context.

Is it better to say "every three months" or "every 3 months"?

Both "every three months" and "every 3 months" are correct. Using numerals (3) is common in technical or informal writing, while spelling out the number (three) is often preferred in more formal contexts.

What does "every 3 months" imply about the timing of events?

"Every 3 months" indicates that events occur regularly at intervals of three months. It does not necessarily imply that these events align with calendar quarters; the timing is relative to a starting point.