from time to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "from time to" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is typically used to indicate the beginning and end of a period of time. For example: "We've been exploring different solutions from time to time, but none of them have helped us make progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

From time to time.

The New York Times

From time to time, liberals grasp this.

The Economist

"Charmers from time to time get lost".

The New Yorker

We get flooding from time to time.

The New York Times

"We drank together from time to time".

The New Yorker

"Things come up from time to time.

The New York Times

The mother visited from time to time.

The New Yorker

Inconsistencies present themselves from time to time.

The New Yorker

From time to time, his sons visited.

The New York Times

Doesn't everybody from time to time?

The New Yorker

Still, it happened from time to time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "from time to" to establish temporal boundaries when describing events or changes over a specific duration, ensuring clarity about the starting and ending points.

Common error

Avoid using "from time to" when you need to be specific about the frequency or intervals of an event. Instead of saying "updates will occur from time to," specify "updates will occur every Tuesday" to provide clearer guidance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from time to" functions as a prepositional phrase, establishing temporal boundaries by denoting the starting and ending points of a span of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and commonly found across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

24%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

15%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "from time to" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that serves to define a period or duration. As verified by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, though most frequently encountered in news and media. Remember that while it is often used interchangeably with the phrase ""from time to time"", they have very different meanings and must not be confused. Use "from time to" to establish clear start and end points in temporal references, and be mindful of more specific alternatives when precision in frequency or intervals is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

periodically

Indicates recurrence at intervals, lacking the explicit start-end frame of "from time to".

at intervals

Focuses on the space between occurrences, without setting a time frame like "from time to".

on occasion

Implies less frequency and regularity than "from time to".

now and then

Suggests irregular and infrequent occurrences, unlike the range indicated by "from time to".

off and on

Describes a pattern of starting and stopping, without a structured timeframe from start to end.

intermittently

Highlights the cessation between actions, diverging from the continuous span in "from time to".

sporadically

Shows irregular or scattered instances, lacking the connected duration that "from time to" provides.

every so often

Conveys randomness with no regularity, missing the planned span "from time to" suggests.

at various times

Stresses different moments rather than a period's boundary as set by "from time to".

during the period

Emphasizes an action that happens across a full duration of time, without interruptions.

FAQs

How can I use "from time to" in a sentence?

Use "from time to" to indicate that something happens between a starting time and an ending time. For example: "We monitor the system's performance "from time to time" to ensure optimal operation."

What are some alternatives to "from time to"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "periodically", "at intervals", or "on occasion" to express similar ideas.

Is "from time to" the same as "from time to time"?

No, "from time to" indicates a duration or range, while ""from time to time"" means occasionally or at irregular intervals.

Which is correct, "from time to" or "during"?

Both are correct but used in different ways. "From time to" specifies the boundaries of a duration, while "during" indicates that something happens within a period of time.