in certain instance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in certain instance" is not correct; it should be "in certain instances." You can use it when referring to specific situations or cases that may vary from the norm.
Example: "In certain instances, the rules may be relaxed to accommodate special circumstances."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Health Research Policy and Systems

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Lewin et al (2005) identified that training created awareness among staff to improve patient-provider relations which lead in certain instance to changes in organization of care and in others not as staff did not see themselves as agents of change [ 24].

Health Research Policy and Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The difference in mass becomes chemically important in certain instances.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Phone hacking is always illegal except, in certain instances, for the security services.

The Guardian

And in certain instances American leaders, American presidents, had profound differences with him.

The Guardian

Birmingham conceded that "perhaps the original model was too generous in certain instances".

The Guardian

Reports are mainly voluntary, though penalties may be imposed for not reporting them in certain instances.

The New York Times - Science

Most banks prefer the Senate version, which would allow greater pre-emption in certain instances.

The New York Times

Specific rules provided for lengthening or shortening the value of notes in certain instances.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But in certain instances, it's just going to hit you or it's not.

The New York Times - Sports

"Sports perhaps in certain instances could take their fans more for granted than they can now," Stern said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Space is at such a premium that your zone of privacy grows in certain instances," he said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the plural form "instances" instead of "instance" when referring to multiple or unspecified occurrences. For example, use "in certain instances".

Common error

Avoid using the singular "instance" when the context implies multiple possibilities or occurrences. Always use the plural "instances" to maintain grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in certain instance" is intended to function as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the circumstances under which an action or event occurs. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically incorrect; it should be "in certain instances."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in certain instance" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "in certain instances". As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the proper usage involves the plural form of "instance" to denote multiple or unspecified occurrences. This phrase functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying conditions under which an action or event takes place. While its intended meaning is clear—to indicate that something applies only under specific conditions—the grammatical error undermines its effectiveness. For more accurate and polished writing, consider alternatives such as "in certain cases" or "in certain situations".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in certain cases

Replaces 'instance' with the more common and grammatically correct 'cases'.

in certain situations

Substitutes 'instance' with 'situations', providing a slightly broader scope.

in specific instances

Replaces 'certain' with 'specific', emphasizing particularity.

in some instances

Replaces 'certain' with 'some', indicating a non-specific quantity of occurrences.

in particular cases

Combines specificity with the grammatically sound 'cases'.

under certain circumstances

Changes the structure to emphasize the conditions influencing the event.

under specific conditions

Highlights the necessary prerequisites for something to occur.

on occasion

Offers a more concise and informal way of expressing infrequent occurrences.

occasionally

Uses an adverb to convey that something happens from time to time.

sometimes

Provides a simple and direct alternative indicating that something does not always happen.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "in certain instance"?

The correct way to phrase this is "in certain instances". The word "instances" should be plural because it refers to multiple possible occurrences or situations.

When should I use "in certain instances"?

Use "in certain instances" when you want to indicate that something is true or applicable only in some cases, not always or universally. It suggests there are specific conditions or situations where something occurs.

What are some alternatives to "in certain instances"?

You can use alternatives like "in certain cases", "in certain situations", or "occasionally" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "in certain instance" and "in specific instance"?

"In certain instance" is grammatically incorrect. "In specific instance" (or better, "in a specific instance") implies a single, particular case, while "in certain instances" refers to multiple, unspecified cases.