however once in a while

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however once in a while" is not correct as it combines two contrasting ideas in a way that is not standard in English.
You can use it to express that something happens occasionally, but it should be rephrased for clarity, such as "however, once in a while" or "once in a while, however." Example: "I usually prefer to stay home; however, once in a while, I enjoy going out with friends."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

However, once in a while, there is room for some unencumbered celebration of personal excellence, even in the scrum of a Knicks-Heat game.

The New York Times - Sports

However, once in a while, these fundamental understandings emerge, and those are very attractive areas for drug development.

Forbes

However, once in a while when she attempted to discipline him when he misbehaved, Xuanxuan would easily find shelter with the grandparents.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

However, once in a while, when you least expect it, he may share some specifics with you.

Huffington Post

However, once in a while, if they're particularly peeved, they can unleash an eruption of foul-mouthed epithets that could embarrass a fishmonger's wife.

Huffington Post

However, once in a while a truly golden moment occurs -- usually in the midst of press tour fatigue -- when an actor or actress lets their guard down to give us what we want.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Submit them once-in-a-while.

WikiHow

However, once in a long while, Netflix puts out the call for what many people consider a dream job position: a part-time tagger.

WikiHow

However, every once in a while they come out with something unique.

TechCrunch

However, every once in a while, a new experience emerges at the app layer to challenge the core experience of the phone.

TechCrunch

However, every once in a while, [a variant] is introduced from one species into a second and is advantageous," says Hopi Hoekstra, an evolutionary biologist at Harvard University.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, separate "however" and "once in a while" with a comma. Use "however, once in a while" to ensure correct phrasing.

Common error

Avoid using "however once in a while" without a comma, as this phrasing is grammatically awkward. Instead, ensure you use "however, once in a while" or choose a more concise alternative like "occasionally".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however once in a while" attempts to combine a contrastive conjunction with an adverbial phrase of frequency. Ludwig AI indicates this phrasing is not standard and can be improved for clarity. The intended function is to express an exception or infrequent occurrence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "however once in a while" is considered grammatically awkward and not standard English. According to Ludwig AI, separating "however" and "once in a while" with a comma, using "however, once in a while", improves clarity. The intended meaning is to indicate an infrequent occurrence that contrasts with a general trend. Alternative phrases like "occasionally" or "sometimes" are more concise and recommended for better communication. While "however once in a while" appears in some online sources, it's best to use clearer alternatives for effective writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however, occasionally

Replaces "once in a while" with "occasionally", simplifying the phrasing while maintaining the contrast introduced by "however".

but sometimes

Uses "but" instead of "however" for a less formal contrast, and "sometimes" replaces "once in a while" for simplicity.

though rarely

Uses "though" as a concessive conjunction and "rarely" to highlight the infrequent nature of the event.

yet infrequently

Replaces "however" with "yet", giving a slightly different tone, and substitutes "once in a while" with "infrequently", which is more formal.

all the same, now and then

Features "all the same" as a contrast marker and "now and then" to suggest intermittent occurrence.

nevertheless, from time to time

Employs "nevertheless" as a stronger contrastive conjunction and "from time to time" as a more descriptive alternative to "once in a while".

in spite of that, at times

Uses "in spite of that" to introduce a contrasting element and "at times" as a straightforward substitute for "once in a while".

even so, on occasion

Uses "even so" as a contrastive phrase and "on occasion" as a formal substitute for "once in a while".

be that as it may, every so often

Employs the formal "be that as it may" for concession and "every so often" to indicate periodic but not regular events.

despite that, sporadically

Combines "despite that" for contrast with "sporadically" to emphasize irregular occurrences.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "however, once in a while" in a sentence?

The correct usage is to separate "however" and "once in a while" with a comma. For example: "I usually prefer to stay home; however, once in a while, I enjoy going out with friends."

What are some alternatives to "however, once in a while"?

You can use alternatives such as "occasionally", "sometimes", or "from time to time" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "however once in a while" without a comma?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The phrase "however" should be separated by a comma when used in conjunction with "once in a while" to ensure clarity and proper sentence structure.

What's the difference between "however, once in a while" and "every once in a while"?

"However, once in a while" introduces a contrast, while "every once in a while" simply indicates that something happens occasionally without necessarily implying a contrast.