has occasionally been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has occasionally been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or state that happens from time to time in the past and may still be relevant in the present. Example: "The project has occasionally been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Still, the criticism has occasionally been scathing.

The New York Times

It has occasionally been divided.

The Guardian

Even opera has occasionally been represented.

The New York Times - Arts

Concurrent bacterial and viral CNS infection has occasionally been reported.

Journal of Clinical Virology

Or worse, it has occasionally been abandoned altogether during games.

The New York Times - Sports

Weak economic growth has occasionally been compatible with presidential reelection.

The Guardian - Opinion

This year, as has occasionally been the case in previous years, is just the opposite.

The New York Times

Contemporary art, sometimes made to resemble trash, has occasionally been mistaken for it and thrown away.

The New York Times - Arts

He has occasionally been known to read scripts and, he says, "I give pretty good notes".

The New Yorker

He has occasionally been the best thing about a bad movie.

The New Yorker

Not surprisingly, my college experience has occasionally been the target of ridicule.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has occasionally been" to indicate that something happens periodically but not regularly. This phrase is suitable for describing events, behaviors, or conditions that are not constant but occur more than rarely.

Common error

Avoid using "has occasionally been" excessively in close proximity to other adverbs of frequency. Overusing such adverbs can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Instead, vary your sentence structure and use different expressions to convey frequency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has occasionally been" functions as an auxiliary phrase, modifying a verb to indicate that an action or state occurs at irregular intervals. As confirmed by Ludwig, the structure is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

37%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has occasionally been" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to express intermittent or infrequent occurrences. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across diverse fields such as news, science, and general writing. While its meaning is clear—something happens periodically but not regularly—writers should avoid overuse and be mindful of the context to ensure clarity and impact. Alternatives like "has sometimes been" or "has at times been" can provide nuanced variations to express similar ideas. The phrase is prevalent in authoritative sources like The New York Times, BBC, and scientific journals, indicating its reliability and broad acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has sometimes been

Indicates a less formal and more general expression of infrequent occurrence, differing slightly in tone.

has at times been

Emphasizes that the occurrence happens sporadically, providing a slightly more literary feel.

has on occasion been

Offers a more formal and emphatic way to convey that something happens infrequently.

has infrequently been

Directly states the lack of frequency, which can sound more precise and less conversational.

has rarely been

Suggests a lower probability of occurrence compared to "occasionally", indicating something almost never happens.

has sporadically been

Highlights the irregular and unpredictable nature of the occurrence, emphasizing its lack of pattern.

has intermittently been

Implies that something stops and starts periodically, adding a temporal dimension to the infrequency.

has now and then been

More colloquial and informal, indicating an event that happens from time to time in a casual context.

has from time to time been

A longer, more descriptive phrase suggesting an irregular but persistent pattern of occurrence.

has every so often been

Conveys a sense of something happening at unpredictable intervals, often used in informal settings.

FAQs

How can I use "has occasionally been" in a sentence?

Use "has occasionally been" to describe something that happens sometimes, but not regularly. For example: "The project "has occasionally been delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "has occasionally been"?

You can use alternatives like "has sometimes been", "has at times been", or "has on occasion been" to express a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "has occasionally been" or "has often been"?

The choice depends on the frequency you want to convey. "Has occasionally been" suggests something happens sometimes, while "has often been" indicates it happens frequently.

What's the difference between "has occasionally been" and "has rarely been"?

"Has occasionally been" implies something happens from time to time, whereas "has rarely been" suggests it hardly ever happens. They represent opposite ends of the frequency spectrum.