for both times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for both times" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to refer to two separate occasions or instances, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "I was late for both times I had to meet her."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Successfully, as it were, for both times the Mongol fleets suffered enormous damage from sudden storms, divine winds that became known in Japanese as the kamikaze.During the latter years of the Ming empire, the armies of Toyotomi Hideyoshi launched repeated attacks against Korea as part of a grander plan to conquer the mainland.

The Economist

Compared to the values at 1 month, the scores of the consumption of analgesic drugs at 3 and 6 months were significantly decreased (P < 0.0001 for both times).

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

The community profiles are illustrated in Figure 1A and presented five distinct LH amplicons for both times of sampling indicated with letters corresponding to the sizes (bp): a (330 to 331), b (334), c (336 to 337), d (343 to 344), and e (346 to 348).

Energy, Sustainability and Society

The IL-10 concentration increased in NM compared with the MT group immediately and 24 h (P< 0.01 for both times) after the last bout of exercise.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

There was no difference between S. brasiliensis and S. schenckii %GI at 15 or 21 days of incubation, with a P value of 0.90 for both times.

BioMed Research International

It also increased IL-4 concentration in the NM group compared with the MT group immediately and 24 h after the last bout of exercise (P< 0.01 for both times).

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

She has also been nominated twice for Best Adapted Screenplay, both times for movies inferior to her own.

The New Yorker

Filter designs can be obtained for both time-invariant and time-varying systems.

Automatica

Thus, acclimation was evident for both time-to-death and the sublethal endpoints.

Aquatic Toxicology

These design features hold for both time-dependent and steady-state flows.

Journal of Theoretical Biology

For example, Andersen et al. (2008) presents non-hypothetical elicitation methods for both time and risk preferences.

Agricultural and Food Economics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "for both times" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "on both occasions" or "in both instances".

Common error

While "for both times" might be acceptable in very informal speech, it is generally considered awkward and imprecise in writing. Using it can detract from the clarity and professionalism of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for both times" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating frequency or occurrence. However, it is generally considered grammatically weak and stylistically awkward. Ludwig AI flags this phrasing as non-standard, suggesting clearer alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "for both times" might appear in some contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and suggests avoiding it in favor of clearer, more standard alternatives. Options such as "on both occasions" or "in both instances" offer improved precision and formality. The phrase's awkwardness makes it unsuitable for professional or academic writing. Its primary function is to indicate that something applies to two specific occurrences, but this can be more effectively communicated with better phrasing. Therefore, it's best to reserve "for both times" for very informal settings and opt for more polished expressions in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on both occasions

Replaces "times" with "occasions", providing a more formal and widely accepted alternative.

in both instances

Substitutes "times" with "instances", which is semantically similar but grammatically stronger.

at both points

Uses "points" instead of "times", suitable when referring to specific moments or stages.

in both cases

Replaces "times" with "cases", appropriate when discussing situations or scenarios.

each time

Emphasizes the individual occurrence of each event.

every time

Similar to "each time", focusing on each separate instance.

both times that

Adds "that" to clarify the connection to a subsequent clause.

during both periods

Utilizes "periods" when referring to spans of time instead of discrete events.

on the two occasions

Specifies "two occasions" for added clarity and formality.

for the two instances

Specifies "two instances" for added clarity and formality.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "for both times"?

Better alternatives include "on both occasions", "in both instances", or "at both points", depending on the specific context.

Is "for both times" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "for both times" is not considered standard English. It's better to use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "on both occasions".

When is it appropriate to use "for both times"?

"For both times" is best reserved for very informal conversation. In formal writing or professional communication, it's advisable to choose a clearer phrase such as "in both instances".

How can I improve my sentence using "for both times"?

Replace "for both times" with a more precise phrase that suits the context. For example, use "on both occasions" if you're referring to events or "during both periods" if you're referring to time spans.