every few weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

"every few weeks" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to indicate something that occurs or repeats with some frequency, but not regularly. For example, "I visit my parents every few weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They phone home every few weeks.

The New York Times

"They deliver weapons once every few weeks".

The New York Times

Every few weeks, he mows.

The New York Times

She still called me every few weeks.

The New York Times

And you move desks every few weeks.

The Guardian - Business

We took holidays every few weeks..

The Guardian

Every few weeks the looks changed.

The New York Times - Magazine

Every few weeks, there was another sighting.

The New Yorker

Once every few weeks it turned out.

The Guardian

Every few weeks, you pour in ordinary water.

The New York Times - Tech

Every few weeks she called to invite me to lunch.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "every few weeks" to describe events or actions that happen with some regularity but not on a fixed schedule. For example, "I update my blog every few weeks" indicates an intention to post regularly, but without a strict weekly commitment.

Common error

While "every few weeks" is acceptable in most contexts, avoid overusing it in formal writing where more precise language might be preferred. Instead of saying "The report is updated every few weeks", consider specifying "The report is updated bi-weekly" or "The report is updated every two weeks" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every few weeks" functions as an adverbial phrase of frequency, modifying verbs to indicate how often an action occurs. It specifies that the action happens recurrently, although not on a strict or regular schedule. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Wiki

27%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "every few weeks" is a commonly used adverbial phrase indicating that something occurs periodically, though not on a fixed schedule. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, particularly in news and media, as well as more informal contexts like wikis. While generally neutral in tone, it's best to avoid overuse in highly formal writing where more specific frequencies are preferred. Alternatives include phrases like "approximately every couple of weeks" or "at intervals of several weeks". Overall, "every few weeks" is a versatile and reliable phrase for describing recurring events with some degree of flexibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately every couple of weeks

Replaces "few" with "couple", suggesting a slightly more specific but still indefinite duration.

roughly every three to four weeks

Provides a range, offering a more explicit but still approximate timeframe.

at intervals of several weeks

Uses a more formal tone and highlights the spaced-out nature of the occurrences.

on a bi-weekly basis, more or less

Introduces the term "bi-weekly" but acknowledges the potential for slight deviation from strict two-week intervals.

at multi-week intervals

Emphasizes that the intervals are longer than just one week, highlighting the extended duration between occurrences.

periodically within a month

Indicates recurrence within a monthly timeframe, without specifying precise intervals.

every now and then within weeks

Suggests an irregular recurrence, emphasizing the uncertainty of the timing within a few weeks.

semi-regularly every month

Implies less regularity than bi-weekly but still suggests a pattern within each month.

from time to time within the month

Highlights the occasional nature of the events over the course of a month.

at variable intervals spanning weeks

Emphasizes that the intervals between occurrences are not consistent but generally fall within a few weeks.

FAQs

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

You can use "every few weeks" to describe how often something happens, such as "I visit my grandmother "every few weeks"" or "The team meets "every few weeks" to discuss progress".

What are some alternatives to saying "every few weeks"?

Alternatives include "approximately every couple of weeks", "roughly every three to four weeks", or "at intervals of several weeks", depending on the desired level of precision.

Is it more appropriate to say "every few weeks" or "every couple of weeks"?

"Every couple of weeks" implies a slightly more precise interval of approximately two weeks, while ""every few weeks"" suggests a less defined timeframe, generally meaning two to four weeks.

What is the difference between "every few weeks" and "bi-weekly"?

"Bi-weekly" can be ambiguous, sometimes meaning twice a week and sometimes meaning every two weeks. "Every few weeks" avoids this ambiguity by clearly indicating a frequency of approximately every two to four weeks.