every once in a while

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every once in a while" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean that something happens occasionally, but not often. For example, "I like to treat myself to a massage every once in a while."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yes, every once in a while.

The New York Times

Get up every once in a while.

The Washington Post

Every once in a while, I'm right.

The New York Times - Food

We fight every once in a while.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Every once in a while, someone will faint," Brown said.

Stanford University

Every once in a while I get bloating and gas.

Harvard University

Everyone deserves a break every once in a while.

Cornell University

Every once in a while you do something right".

The New Yorker

like tell them some truth every once in a while.

The New Yorker

Every once in a while, he calls a carpenter.

The New Yorker

"It happens every once in a while," he said slowly.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "every once in a while" to add a touch of informality to your writing, suggesting something happens without a rigid schedule. For instance, "I treat myself to a nice dinner every once in a while."

Common error

Avoid using "every once in a while" too frequently in the same piece of writing. Over-repetition can make your text sound monotonous. Instead, vary your language with synonyms like "occasionally" or "from time to time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every once in a while" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the frequency of an action. It specifies that something happens occasionally or intermittently. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is perfectly correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

35%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "every once in a while" is a grammatically sound and widely used adverbial phrase that indicates infrequent or occasional occurrences. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability. Its primary function is to modify verbs or clauses, adding a touch of informality and suggesting non-regularity. While it's common in news, media, and informal contexts, you should consider alternatives like "occasionally" or "from time to time" in more formal writing to maintain precision and avoid overusing the phrase. Examples from various sources demonstrate its versatility and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally

This is a single-word adverb that directly replaces the entire phrase.

from time to time

A common alternative that emphasizes the sporadic nature of the events.

now and then

Similar to "from time to time", but may imply slightly less frequency.

sometimes

A more general term indicating that something happens at times.

at times

A shorter, more direct way to express occasional occurrences.

on occasion

More formal and emphasizes specific instances rather than regular intervals.

infrequently

Directly states the low frequency of occurrence.

not very often

A more explicit and less idiomatic way of saying something doesn't happen frequently.

periodically

Implies occurrences at somewhat regular intervals, unlike the random nature of "every once in a while".

once in a blue moon

Emphasizes the rarity of the event.

FAQs

How can I use "every once in a while" in a sentence?

You can use "every once in a while" to indicate that something happens occasionally, but not regularly. For example, "Every once in a while I go to the cinema to relax."

What are some alternatives to saying "every once in a while"?

Instead of "every once in a while", you could say "occasionally", "sometimes", or "from time to time" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "every once in a while"?

Yes, the phrase "every once in a while" is grammatically correct and widely accepted in English. It's an idiomatic expression that means occasionally or infrequently.

What's the difference between "every once in a while" and "sometimes"?

"Every once in a while" implies a less frequent occurrence than "sometimes". "Sometimes" suggests that something happens with some regularity, while "every once in a while" indicates it's more sporadic.