in alternation with

USAGE SUMMARY

"in alternation with" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe when two or more things happen in turns or cycles. For example: "The company alternates between two alternating shifts, one during the day and one during the night, in alternation with each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

Large flatworms use pedal locomotion instead of or in alternation with ciliary activity.

Britannica

Mr. Temirkanov is also to open the orchestra's next season and future seasons in alternation with St . Petersburg

The New York Times - Arts

Little spikes and twirls of tone were deftly brushed in, above, below or in alternation with the piano.

The New York Times - Arts

I find that she wrote her best books, in alternation with her worst books, until near the end.

The New Yorker

Some polyphonic hymn settings were used, usually in alternation with plainchants, and were particularly important in organ music.

Britannica

A blue or blue-green border often shows similar palmettes placed transversely in alternation with groups of five small palmettes.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Ms. Chai, who has given talks about the connections and contrasts between the études of Debussy and Ligeti, opened with four of them, two by either composer, in alternation, played with rippling clarity and elegance.

The New York Times - Arts

This mechanism may underlie neuronal activations to non-rewarding stimuli occurring in a rewarding context, such as the laboratory in which an animal receives daily rewards, irrespective of the stimuli being presented in random alternation with rewarded stimuli or in separate trial blocks [ 46].

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Books bulge in huge rows, pressing together files and papers, orange foolscap running in chunky alternation with black, white and grey.

The Guardian - Books

Each fleeting scene was preceded by an English translation, projected in silent alternation with stark black-and-white photographs by David Michalek.

The New York Times - Arts

Dopamine neurons show activations following control stimuli that are presented in pseudorandom alternation with rewarded stimuli [ 27, 29, 32].

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in alternation with" to clearly indicate a pattern where two or more actions or items occur sequentially and repeatedly. This phrase is particularly useful in scientific, musical, and procedural contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "in alternation with" when you mean to describe actions happening at the same time. This phrase is for sequential, not simultaneous, events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in alternation with" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a sequential or cyclical relationship between two or more elements. Ludwig examples showcase its use in diverse contexts like music, science, and politics.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in alternation with" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed prepositional phrase used to depict sequences or cycles across various domains. As confirmed by Ludwig, it effectively conveys a pattern of events occurring one after another. Predominantly found in scientific, journalistic, and encyclopedic content, this phrase exhibits a neutral to formal register. When seeking alternatives, consider options like "alternating with" or "in rotation with" to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alternating with

Shorter, more direct phrasing.

in rotation with

Emphasizes a cyclical pattern.

alternately with

Uses an adverb to convey the alternating action.

taking turns with

More informal, emphasizes the shared sequence.

by turns with

Highlights the sequential occurrence.

in sequence with

Highlights the ordered arrangement.

interchanging with

Focuses on the act of switching back and forth.

on and off with

More informal, suggests intermittent action.

reciprocally with

Highlights the mutual exchange.

periodically with

Emphasizes the regular intervals.

FAQs

How can I use "in alternation with" in a sentence?

You can use "in alternation with" to describe processes or sequences where different elements take place one after the other. For example: "The treatment involved medication "in alternation with" physical therapy."

What are some alternatives to using "in alternation with"?

Some alternatives include "alternating with", "in rotation with", or "taking turns with". Choose the phrase that best fits the specific context.

Is there a difference between "alternating with" and "in alternation with"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "in alternation with" may imply a more structured or formal arrangement than simply "alternating with".

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use "in alternation with"?

This phrase is commonly used in scientific, musical, and procedural contexts to describe sequential or cyclical patterns. It is less common in informal conversation.