every ten seconds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every ten seconds" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the frequency of an action or event. Here is an example: "Every ten seconds, the clock chimed, reminding us of the passing time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Every ten seconds, he had to re-start.

The New Yorker

PHYSICIST: Every ten seconds or so, mine just, I don't know, stops.

The New Yorker

Every ten seconds or so, he'd snort a gnarly breath through his nose, a terrific snore.

The New Yorker

Someone in the UK suffers a life-threatening asthma attack every ten seconds, Asthma UK says.

The Guardian

"How can I relax with the phone going off every ten seconds?" "Ma, I'm under pressure.

The New Yorker

Every ten seconds or so she turns toward him and spits, vehemently, in his face.

The New Yorker

Every ten seconds, Trevor's dark eyes dart to the digital clock on his computer screen, a driver checking his rearview.

Princeton University

By one estimate, a child dies every ten seconds from a disease that could have been averted by vaccination.

The Economist

Through this sort of data-crunching, we generate a new set of predictive models every ten seconds.

Harvard Business Review

To watch: "A History of the Sky," a time-lapse video that captures an image of the sky every ten seconds for a year.

The New Yorker

The tip, just a few atoms across, moves slowly: at best, commercial atomic force microscopes can take only about one image every ten seconds.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing automated processes or measurements, use "every ten seconds" to clearly indicate the sampling frequency or update rate. For example: "The sensor transmits data every ten seconds."

Common error

Avoid using "every ten seconds" when the actual intervals vary. If the time between events fluctuates, use a phrase like "approximately every ten seconds" or "roughly every ten seconds" to convey the uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every ten seconds" functions as an adverbial phrase of frequency, modifying a verb to indicate how often an action occurs. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and appropriate for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "every ten seconds" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate the frequency of an action or event. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media, science, and wiki articles, with neutral formality. When using "every ten seconds", ensure the action genuinely occurs at consistent intervals; otherwise, consider using qualifiers like "approximately" or "roughly". Alternatives such as "at ten-second intervals" or "once every ten seconds" can offer stylistic variation. Ludwig's examples show its versatility in describing everything from scientific measurements to everyday occurrences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every tenth second

Changes from numeral to ordinal, denoting sequence instead of a duration.

each ten seconds

Replaces "every" with "each", slightly altering the emphasis on individual occurrences.

at ten-second intervals

Uses a noun phrase to describe the spacing between events.

once every ten seconds

Adds "once" to clarify that it happens one time within each interval.

ten seconds apart

Focuses on the separation between events rather than the frequency.

every few seconds

Broadens the timeframe, indicating a less precise interval.

regularly every ten seconds

Adds emphasis on the regularity of the occurrence.

at a rate of every ten seconds

Specifies the action as a rate over time.

in ten-second cycles

Presents the timeframe as a repeating cycle.

ten seconds on the dot

Emphasizes the precision and exactness of the ten-second interval.

FAQs

How can I use "every ten seconds" in a sentence?

Use "every ten seconds" to indicate how frequently something occurs. For example, "The monitoring system records temperature readings "every ten seconds"."

What can I say instead of "every ten seconds"?

You can use alternatives like "at "ten-second intervals"", "once "every ten seconds"", or "ten seconds apart" depending on the context.

Is it more correct to say "each ten seconds" or "every ten seconds"?

"Every ten seconds" is generally preferred and more common. "Each ten seconds" is less idiomatic but understandable.

What's the difference between "every ten seconds" and "in ten seconds"?

"Every ten seconds" implies repetition or frequency, whereas "in ten seconds" indicates a point in the future. For example, "The data is updated "every ten seconds"" vs. "The program will start running in "ten seconds"".