frequent short

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "frequent short" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe something that occurs often and is brief, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "I prefer frequent short breaks during my workday to maintain my focus."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

This creates an environment that is detrimental to patients' sleep as noise levels frequently undulate between low levels, with frequent short, sharp and unpredictable escalations in noise [74].

Annals of Intensive Care

This creates an environment that is detrimental to patients' sleep as noise levels frequently undulate between low levels, with frequent short, sharp and unpredictable escalations in noise [ 74].

Annals of Intensive Care

In his report, Pedowitz explains the reasons for the frequent, short phone calls.

The New York Times - Sports

There is a frequent, short, €2 bus journey to the crater from the port of Mandraki.

The Guardian - Travel

Symptoms can be avoided by good workplace design, so that you can work comfortably, and by good working practices, like taking frequent short screen breaks".

The Guardian - Money

Because the catch must be brought back to shore quickly, fishermen make frequent short trips rather than longer journeys which are more lucrative.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

"What type of model capitalizes on frequent short-distance flights?" he said.

The New York Times

The point is that high efficiency requires a much higher tolerance for frequent, short-term discomfort.

The New York Times

Although frequent short-term errors can make the path conditions not good enough for data transmission, this would not be detected by the standard SCTP mechanism.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The presented patient with frequent short-lasting attacks of pain associated with conjunctival injection, lacrimation and facial flushing fulfills the criteria for SUNCT syndrome.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Unions have criticised the lack of certainty over earnings and employment rights, coupled with the potential disruption to family life caused by frequent short-notice calls to work.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For improved clarity, consider using phrases like "regular brief", "often brief", or other alternatives that more explicitly convey the intended meaning of recurring events of short duration. This will prevent misinterpretation.

Common error

Relying solely on the phrase "frequent short" may lead to misinterpretation. Ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is frequent and short, or by using more descriptive alternatives like "regular brief intervals" or "common quick bursts".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "frequent short" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the characteristics of something, indicating that it occurs often and is of limited duration. Ludwig identifies examples where it modifies nouns like "trips", "breaks", and "messages".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "frequent short" is used to describe something that occurs often and is of limited duration. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is not the most grammatically sound and can lack clarity. While common across contexts like Science, News & Media, and Wiki, more precise alternatives such as "regular brief" or "often brief" may improve clarity and impact. Consider using these alternatives for enhanced precision and to prevent potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regular brief

Changes the adjective "frequent" to "regular", and "short" to "brief", keeping the meaning of recurring actions of short duration.

often brief

Replaces "frequent" with "often", emphasizing the high occurrence rate of brief instances.

repeatedly short

Uses "repeatedly" to convey the frequent nature and retains "short" to describe the duration.

recurring short

Employs "recurring" instead of "frequent" to indicate the repetitive nature while maintaining the original meaning of the phrase.

common brief

Substitutes "frequent" with "common" to highlight the typical nature of brief instances.

numerous quick

Uses "numerous" to suggest frequency and "quick" instead of "short" to describe duration. This phrasing is less formal.

successive short

Expresses the idea of events or intervals happening one after the other in a short timeframe.

close short

Emphasizes proximity in time between the short instances. Suitable when the temporal closeness is relevant.

episodic brief

Replaces "frequent" with "episodic", suggesting that the short instances occur in distinct episodes or bursts.

intermittent brief

Suggests instances that are not continuous or steady, but occur briefly at intervals.

FAQs

How can I rewrite the phrase "frequent short" for better clarity?

To improve clarity, use alternatives like "regular brief", "often brief", or "common quick" depending on the context and the specific meaning you want to convey.

What does "frequent short" typically describe?

It generally refers to events, intervals, or actions that occur often and are of short duration. For example, "frequent short breaks" during work.

Which is more grammatically sound, "frequent short" or "regular brief"?

"Regular brief" is generally considered more grammatically sound as it clearly and directly conveys the idea of recurring, short-duration events. Consider using alternatives like "regular brief".

What are some contexts where "frequent short" might be used?

This phrase can be used in contexts involving breaks, communications, trips, or any repeated activity of short duration, as illustrated in the Ludwig examples.