every four generations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every four generations" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a recurring event or phenomenon that occurs at intervals of four generations. Example: "The family reunion takes place every four generations, bringing together descendants from all branches of the family tree."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

It moves one cell vertically and one horizontally every four generations, giving the impression that it is crawling across the screen.

The Guardian

With 1700 genotyped hybrids, calibration every four generations and 300 candidates per generation and population, selection response of RRGS was 71.8%% higher than RRS.

BMC Genomics

With 1700 genotyped hybrids, calibration every four generations and 300 candidates per generation and population, selection response of RRGS_HYB was 71.8%% higher than RRS.

BMC Genomics

In this case, decreasing the progeny-test frequency led to a lower cumulative selection response, i.e. 13.9, 17.4 and 20.2 % with progeny tests performed every four generations, every two generations and every generation, respectively (all differences significant at P < 0.001).

BMC Genomics

With progeny tests performed every four generations, RRGS_HYB finally outperformed RRGS_PAR in accuracy and had a significantly higher annual selection response than the other breeding schemes (+50 % compared to RRS for RRGS_HYB, +30 % for RRGS_PAR).

BMC Genomics

An opposite effect was noted in the annual response, i.e. 0.37, 0.33 and 0.25 % with progeny tests performed every four generations, every two generations and every generation, respectively (P < 0.001).

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

At every thousand generations, trees were sampled.

Nature

The MCMC was run for 10 million generations with sample recorded every hundred generations.

Nature

A control loop was used to re-initialize the population every five generations.

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

Speaking of design, it also looks like the iPhone will get a fresh coat of paint, following in the tradition of changing things up considerably every two generations.

TechCrunch

Trees were sampled every hundred generations and the consensus tree was estimated by using a burn in of 3,000 trees.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "every four generations", ensure the context clearly establishes what is recurring or being measured across these generational spans. This clarifies the phrase's significance.

Common error

Avoid using "every four generations" when a shorter or more specific time frame is intended. If referring to something annual or decennial, use "every four years" or "every decade" instead for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every four generations" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify frequency or interval. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in describing events or processes that recur over extended periods.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

27%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "every four generations" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that indicates a recurrence or pattern over a span of four generations. As Ludwig confirms, it frequently appears in scientific and news contexts, denoting temporal intervals. While generally neutral to formal in register, clarity in its usage is key, and alternative phrases like "once per four generations" or "every fourth generation" can offer suitable variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every fourth generation

Replaces the numerical adjective with the ordinal "fourth", keeping the generational aspect.

once per four generations

Replaces "every" with "once per", emphasizing the single instance within the four-generation span.

with a frequency of every four generations

Adds formality by specifying "frequency".

in intervals of four generations

Emphasizes the recurring interval rather than direct repetition.

each set of four generations

Highlights the grouping into sets of four generations.

quadragenerational

This single word summarizes the concept of spanning four generations, offering a concise alternative.

in a cycle of four generations

Similar to previous, focuses on generational cycles.

across four generational cycles

Rephrases with a focus on cycles of generations.

every few generations

Broadens the scope to a less precise number of generations.

generation after generation, four times removed

Describes the generational gap in a more descriptive and less direct manner.

FAQs

How can I use "every four generations" in a sentence?

You can use "every four generations" to describe events or traits that recur across extended family lines. For example, "The family business has been passed down every four generations, ensuring fresh perspectives and innovation".

What phrases are similar to "every four generations"?

Similar phrases include "once per four generations", "quadragenerational", or "every fourth generation". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and conciseness.

Is it better to say "every four generations" or "every fourth generation"?

Both "every four generations" and "every fourth generation" are grammatically correct. "Every four generations" emphasizes the recurring pattern over a period of time, while "every fourth generation" specifically highlights a single generation in a sequence.

What does "every four generations" mean in a scientific context?

In science, "every four generations" might refer to the frequency of data collection, genetic drift, or the manifestation of certain traits in breeding programs. For example, progeny tests may be performed "every two generations", "every five generations" or "every four generations" to assess genetic progress.