every other time

USAGE SUMMARY

"every other time" is a perfectly correct phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that occurs at intermittent intervals, i.e. not continuously. For example: "I only go out to eat every other time I'm in town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"My copier breaks every other time.

The New York Times

The same was true every other time he batted.

The New York Times - Sports

Who's the President?" every other time they entered a room.

The New Yorker

"In rehearsals, the apple pancake got burned every other time".

The New York Times

The "unlike every other time" goes without saying.

The Guardian - Sport

And this time, unlike almost every other time, Watson went on and on and on.

The Guardian - Sport

Every other time I've batted on this trip, I've felt really, really good".

Independent

Every other time I failed, I had to pay a fee to take the test again.

The New York Times

"Every other time I've run for office I have gained weight," she said.

The New York Times

New York's sewage system overflows essentially every other time it rains.

The New York Times

"Unfortunately every other time we haven't been able to keep up with the pace of England.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "every other time" to clearly indicate an action or event happens with a consistent interval in between, creating a sense of rhythm or pattern. For example, "The bus arrives every other time according to the schedule."

Common error

Avoid using "every other time" when you mean something happens rarely or infrequently without a predictable pattern. Instead, use phrases like "occasionally" or "sometimes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every other time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the frequency or timing of an action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts, showing it describes actions happening at alternating intervals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

13%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "every other time" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverbial phrase that specifies the frequency of an action or event occurring at alternating intervals. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s versatile and appears in various contexts, particularly in news, general explanations, and scientific texts. While it maintains a neutral register, it's important to use it accurately to avoid confusion with actions that occur rarely but without a specific pattern. Alternatives like ""alternately"" or ""on alternate occasions"" can be used for stylistic variation while retaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every second occasion

Synonymous, but slightly more formal and less common.

alternately

More concise, but equivalent in meaning.

on alternate occasions

More formal and emphasizes the alternating pattern.

at alternating times

Highlights the change in timing between occurrences.

intermittently

Focuses on the sporadic nature of the occurrence, less on the specific frequency.

periodically

Suggests a regular but not necessarily frequent pattern.

not every time

Focuses on the infrequency rather than the alternating pattern.

at intervals

Focuses on the space between occurrences.

occasionally

Implies a less regular and predictable occurrence.

in turns

Suggests a rotation or sequence of events.

FAQs

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

You can use "every other time" to describe an action that occurs at alternating intervals, such as "Every other time I go to the store, I buy milk".

What are some alternatives to "every other time"?

Some alternatives include "alternately", "on alternate occasions", or "every second time", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

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

Yes, ""every second time"" is a valid and nearly synonymous alternative to "every other time". Both phrases indicate the same alternating pattern.

What's the difference between "sometimes" and "every other time"?

"Sometimes" indicates an action occurs occasionally without a specific pattern, whereas "every other time" implies a predictable, alternating sequence. For example, saying "I sometimes go to the gym" suggests an irregular frequency, while saying "every other time I go to the gym, I do cardio" indicates a consistent pattern.