every second

USAGE SUMMARY

"every second" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a period of time (e.g. "Every second counts when you're trying to beat the clock").

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He works every second.

The New York Times

And every second.

The New York Times - Sports

I remember every second.

The Guardian

I loved every second!

The Guardian

Every second was something.

The New Yorker

Every second is hell".

The Guardian

Every second is art.

The New Yorker

It's growing every second.

MIT Technology Review

Mike worked like a surgeon every second".

The New Yorker

Intel makes 10 billion transistors every second.

The Economist

Through Ramadan, I absolutely loved every second.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "every second" to describe a rapid occurrence or change, ensure the context clearly supports the idea of something happening multiple times within short intervals. For instance, "The data updates every second", indicating high-frequency data refresh.

Common error

Avoid using "every second" loosely when you mean "frequently" or "often" if the event does not literally occur within each passing second. For example, it's incorrect to say "I check my email every second" if you only check it several times per hour.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every second" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase modifying verbs to specify the frequency or rate at which an action occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across a wide range of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

32%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "every second" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that effectively conveys the idea of something occurring continuously or at a very rapid pace. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is versatile and appropriate for various contexts, including news, scientific discourse, and everyday communication. While alternatives like "each second" or "per second" exist, "every second" maintains a strong presence due to its clarity and impact. Pay attention to the specific context to ensure accurate depiction of frequency and prevent misuse with the help of this guide.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

each second

Replaces "every" with "each", emphasizing individuality of each instance.

per second

Uses "per" to indicate rate or frequency within a second.

each and every second

Adds emphasis to "every second" by including "each and", stressing inclusiveness.

second by second

Highlights the continuous nature of the action occurring in each passing second.

by the second

Similar to "second by second", but can also refer to something changing rapidly.

momentarily

Indicates something happening very quickly or for a brief moment.

constantly

Suggests continuous action without specifying the exact timeframe of a second.

continuously

Implies ongoing action, differing from the discrete intervals of "every second".

incessantly

Emphasizes the ceaseless or uninterrupted nature of an action.

all the time

Indicates that something happens very often, but doesn't refer to a specific time frame like seconds.

FAQs

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

You can use "every second" to indicate frequency or to emphasize the importance of time, such as: "The program processes data "every second"" or "Every second counts in an emergency situation".

What are some alternatives to saying "every second"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "each second", "per second", or "constantly" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it more accurate to say "each second" or "every second"?

Both phrases are generally interchangeable. "Every second" implies a recurring interval, while "each second" can emphasize the individuality of each passing second, though the difference is subtle.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "every second"?

Avoid using ""every second"" if the event only happens very frequently but not literally within each passing second. In such case using "frequently" or "often" might be more appropriate.