every few seconds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every few seconds" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to indicate that something occurs or happens at frequent, brief intervals over time. For example: "The children raced around the playground, stopping every few seconds to look at a bug or a flower."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Every few seconds, the models lit up.

The New Yorker

Every few seconds or so".

The Guardian - Tech

Allegiances switch every few seconds.

The New York Times

Thread 3 just executes every few seconds.

Cornell University

Smartphone cameras are flashing every few seconds.

The Guardian - Opinion

My heart breaks every few seconds.

The Guardian - Travel

The box updates every few seconds.

The New York Times - Tech

Every few seconds, the Shield would draw a power spike.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Every few seconds another drink strikes Scotty's face.

The New Yorker

Every few seconds, someone asked him what he was cooking.

The New Yorker

Every few seconds, he would repeat, "Stay with me".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "every few seconds" to clearly convey short and frequent intervals, enhancing the reader's understanding of timing and rhythm in descriptions.

Common error

Avoid pairing "every few seconds" with other imprecise terms that could confuse the reader. Instead of saying something like "it happened every few seconds or so", stick to the specific timeframe to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every few seconds" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to specify how frequently an action occurs. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes events happening at short, repeated intervals. It provides a temporal reference, indicating rhythm and pace.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

22%

Science

19%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "every few seconds" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase that indicates frequent, short intervals. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad applicability. It appears most often in news and media contexts, but also frequently in scientific and wiki sources. While versatile, ensure its usage aligns with the intended level of formality and avoids ambiguity by pairing it with precise time references. When looking for alternatives, consider "every couple of seconds" or "repeatedly in quick succession" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every couple of seconds

Uses "couple" to approximate a similar timeframe, very close in meaning.

every handful of seconds

Uses "handful" to suggest an approximate and small number of seconds.

repeatedly in quick succession

Emphasizes the speed and frequency of the repetitions, similar to "every few seconds".

frequently in brief bursts

Highlights the short, active periods, rather than regular timing.

in rapid sequence

Stresses how quickly one event follows another, resembling short intervals.

at short intervals

Focuses on the brief spacing between occurrences, instead of specifying "seconds".

at regular intervals

Implies occurrences are spaced evenly, but without the brief duration suggested by "seconds".

periodically

Describes something happening repeatedly, but without the specific timeframe of "every few seconds".

at frequent junctures

Implies that something occurs often, but lacks the precision of the term "seconds".

on a recurring basis

Indicates repeated events, without specifying how often they happen.

FAQs

How can I use "every few seconds" in a sentence?

Use "every few seconds" to indicate that something happens repeatedly within short intervals. For example, "The light flickered "every few seconds", signaling a problem with the wiring."

What phrases are similar to "every few seconds"?

Similar phrases include "every couple of seconds", "at short intervals", or "repeatedly in quick succession", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a more formal way to say "every few seconds"?

While "every few seconds" is acceptable in most contexts, you might use "at brief intervals" or "periodically in rapid sequence" for a more formal tone.

When is it inappropriate to use "every few seconds"?

Avoid using "every few seconds" when describing events that occur over longer or less frequent periods. In such cases, use phrases like "every few minutes" or "at regular intervals".