every so often

USAGE SUMMARY

"every so often" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to mean "occasionally" or "from time to time". For example, "I like to visit my grandparents every so often."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

EVERY so often it happens.

The New York Times

EVERY so often someone declares ballet dead.

The New York Times - Arts

It happens every so often.

The New Yorker

Every so often a fan approached.

The New York Times

But every so often somebody gets lucky.

The New Yorker

Every so often we are shocked — shocked!

The New York Times - Arts

This thing shows up every so often.

The New York Times

Every so often, inexplicably, he ducked.

The New Yorker

Every so often a boy appealed — 'Owzat!

The New Yorker

Every so often, the balance switches.

The New York Times - Arts

Every so often the cart stops.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "every so often" to indicate that something happens from time to time, but not regularly. It adds a natural, conversational tone to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "every so often" too frequently in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Vary your language by using alternatives like "occasionally" or "from time to time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every so often" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate frequency. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is a correct and usable adverbial phrase. It expresses the idea that something happens occasionally or intermittently. Examples in Ludwig show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

23%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "every so often" is a common adverbial phrase used to indicate that something occurs occasionally or intermittently. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. The phrase is generally neutral in tone, making it suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, media, and general writing. While versatile, avoiding overuse is key to maintaining writing impact. Consider alternatives like "occasionally" or "from time to time" to vary your language. Its role is to convey irregularity rather than a structured schedule. High-quality sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker frequently employ it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally

Single-word adverb replacing the multi-word phrase, making it more concise.

from time to time

A common alternative phrase with nearly identical meaning and usage.

now and then

Another frequently used phrase conveying the same sense of intermittence.

once in a while

A slightly more informal phrase indicating infrequent occurrence.

at intervals

More formal and precise, highlighting the spacing between occurrences.

periodically

Implies a regular, though not necessarily frequent, recurrence.

intermittently

Focuses on the stop-and-start nature of the occurrences.

on occasion

More formal alternative emphasizing specific instances.

at times

Suggests that something happens sometimes, without specifying frequency.

irregularly

Highlights the lack of a fixed pattern in the occurrences.

FAQs

What does "every so often" mean?

The phrase "every so often" means occasionally or from time to time. It indicates that something happens intermittently, but not on a regular basis.

How can I use "every so often" in a sentence?

You can use "every so often" to describe events or actions that occur sporadically. For example, "I visit my family "every so often"." or "Every so often, I treat myself to a nice dinner."

What are some alternatives to "every so often"?

Some alternatives to "every so often" include "occasionally", "from time to time", "now and then", and "once in a while".

Is "every so often" formal or informal?

"Every so often" is generally considered to be neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "periodically" or "at intervals" may be preferable in highly formal writing.