every other

USAGE SUMMARY

"every other" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is occurring alternately or at regular intervals. For example, "I schedule meetings with my team every other Tuesday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Every other guy complains.

The New York Times

I'm like every other man.

Independent

Every other store is local".

The New York Times

Oh, about every other day.

The New Yorker

Just ask every other state.

The New York Times

Or even every other shot.

The New Yorker

A About every other month.

The New York Times

Every other team, in fact.

The New York Times - Sports

I go every other day.

The New York Times

Every other dish dazzled.

The New York Times

Every other entree soared.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling events, clarify whether "every other" refers to weeks, days, or months to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming "every other" always means every two days. Always specify the unit of time (e.g., "every other week") for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every other" functions as a determiner and adjective, modifying a noun to indicate that something occurs or is selected in an alternating pattern or at intervals of two. As Ludwig AI explains, it means not each one, but the one following the next one.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "every other" is a versatile phrase used to indicate an alternating or intermittent pattern. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. It's crucial to provide context to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specifying "every other day" or "every other week" is essential. Alternatives include "alternate" or "every second". "Every other" is a common phrase in news, media, and general writing. It’s suitable for professional and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every second

Highlights the interval aspect, specifying a gap of one.

on alternate days

More explicit about the alternating pattern and the time frame.

alternate

A single word denoting something done or happening in turns.

alternating

Focuses on the process of switching back and forth.

skip-a-day

Emphasizes the skipping of one day in between.

in turns

Describes a sequence where actions or events happen one after another.

intermittently

Implies irregular intervals, not necessarily every second instance.

biweekly

Specifically refers to every two weeks.

every two weeks

Specifies a longer period of time between events.

semiweekly

Happening twice a week which is different from QUERY

FAQs

How can I use "every other" in a sentence?

Use "every other" to indicate that something happens or is selected in an alternating pattern. For instance, "I visit my parents "every other week"" means you visit them once every two weeks.

What is a simple way to rephrase "every other"?

A simpler way to say "every other" is to use the word "alternate". For example, "alternate days" instead of "every other day".

Is it correct to say "every second" instead of "every other"?

Yes, "every second" can often be used interchangeably with "every other", especially when referring to items in a sequence or alternating events.

What does "every other day" mean?

"Every other day" means something happens one day, then not the next day, and then it happens again. It's equivalent to saying "on alternate days".