for the second time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for the second time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an event that has happened twice, or more. For example, "I had to read the instructions for the second time in order to understand them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For the second time, the strategy fizzled.

The New York Times - Sports

Spot on, for the second time running.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

RIP Nicholas Johnson, for the second time.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Li breaks back for the second time.

The Guardian - Sport

She fainted for the second time'".

The Guardian - Books

For the second time, Rimington gets cross.

The Guardian

I'm pregnant for the second time.

The Guardian - Opinion

We're here for the second time.

The New York Times

He was deported for the second time in 1997.

University of California, Berkeley

Andy Murray wins Wimbledon for the second time.

The Guardian

(Also on Sky, for the second time this campaign).

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for the second time" to clearly indicate that an event has occurred twice. This avoids ambiguity and provides a specific reference point in your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "for the second time" when you mean "secondly" to introduce the second point in a list. Use "secondly" for enumeration and "for the second time" for repeated occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for the second time" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause by indicating the number of times an action has occurred. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage, confirming its standard grammatical role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

13%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for the second time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that indicates an action or event has happened twice. As Ludwig's examples demonstrate, it's common in News & Media, Academia and Wiki. It serves the purpose of specifying recurrence and is generally considered to have a neutral register. Remember to use it to express that something happened on a subsequent occassion. As the AI correctly indicates, this expression is correct and commonly used in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a second time

A shorter, more direct way of saying "for the second time", suitable for informal contexts.

on the second occasion

Emphasizes the specific instance of the second occurrence, similar to "for the second time".

in the second instance

Focuses on the order or sequence of events.

for a second instance

Highlights the event as another case of something happening.

subsequently

Indicates that something happened after the first occurrence, though not necessarily only twice in total.

once more

Implies a repetition of an action, but without specifying it is the second time.

yet again

Similar to "once more", implying repetition, potentially more than just twice.

on another occasion

Broadly suggests a repeat occurrence, not necessarily the second.

as a follow up

Suggests an action is being repeated, not always a reference for two instances.

in repetition

Implies recurrence and refers back to the original action

FAQs

How can I use "for the second time" in a sentence?

Use "for the second time" to indicate that an event or action has occurred again after an initial occurrence. For example, "She won the race "for the second time" this season".

What's the difference between "for the second time" and "secondly"?

"For the second time" refers to an event happening again, while "secondly" is used to introduce the second item in a list or series of points. They are not interchangeable.

What are some alternatives to "for the second time"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "on the second occasion", "a second time", or "in the second instance".

Is it correct to say "for a second time" instead of "for the second time"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "for the second time" is more common and typically preferred in formal writing. "A second time" might be more appropriate in informal contexts.