in certain occasions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in certain occasions" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to introduce an example or to indicate that a given situation is true for some but not all occasions. For example, "In certain occasions, I may find myself in agreement with my opponent's argument."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Differential identification of MTB from MTBC is thus important in certain occasions.

Journal of Microbiological Methods

Energy saving potential of trigeneration might not be guaranteed in certain occasions in a year.

Applied Thermal Engineering

They even make it worse in certain occasions.

Johns Hopkins University

In certain occasions, scaffolding by the teacher or by TEL environment would have been beneficial.

International Journal of STEM Education

In certain occasions the dinucleotide repeats based allelic variation results in shadow bands or stutter bands during electrophoresis thus leading to genotyping errors (Hoffman and Amos [2005]).

Botanical Studies

Moreover, in certain occasions such as conferences, music concerts or football games, the increased number of people in the same site may render such networks impractical.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The government should step in on certain occasions.

The Guardian

These photos can take time to organize; however, they will come in handy for certain occasions.

Huffington Post

Women in the government bodies like the Senate were still expected to wear skirts, while men were able to dress down in khakis on certain occasions.

Vice

There are certain occasions in a theatregoing life — in life in general — when you want something comforting, a dip in a warm bath filled with the aromatic oil of sentiment.

The New Yorker

When I was alone with Ms. Lewinsky on certain occasions in early 1996, and once in early 1997, I engaged in conduct that was wrong.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, specify the types of occasions you're referring to when using the phrase "in certain occasions". Instead of saying, "Help is needed in certain occasions", be precise and say "Help is needed in emergency situations".

Common error

While grammatically sound, "in certain occasions" can sound vague. In formal writing, consider more precise alternatives like "in specific instances" or "under particular circumstances" to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in certain occasions" functions as an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when something occurs. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase indicates that something happens only sometimes and not always.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in certain occasions" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate that something happens selectively, not universally. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in English writing. While versatile, appearing across various domains like Science, News & Media, and Wiki, careful consideration should be given to the context. In more formal settings, alternatives such as "in specific situations" or "under certain circumstances" might be more appropriate. Remember to specify which occasions you're referring to for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on some occasions

Replaces "certain" with "some", slightly broadening the scope while maintaining the same core meaning.

in some instances

Substitutes "occasions" with "instances", providing a more formal and specific tone.

on particular instances

Similar to "in some instances" but with a slightly more formal tone emphasizing singularity.

at times

Offers a more concise and informal alternative, emphasizing the intermittent nature of the events.

under certain circumstances

Shifts the focus to the conditions that trigger the event, rather than the event itself.

in specific situations

Similar to "under certain circumstances", but emphasizing the situational aspect.

sometimes

Simplifies the phrase to a single adverb, suitable for situations where brevity is preferred.

from time to time

Highlights the sporadic nature of the event, implying that it occurs irregularly.

when the need arises

Highlights contingency, focusing on situations where an action becomes necessary.

every so often

An idiomatic expression indicating infrequent but regular occurrences.

FAQs

How can I use "in certain occasions" in a sentence?

You can use "in certain occasions" to indicate that something happens sometimes, but not always. For example, "In certain occasions, the government might intervene in the economy".

What can I say instead of "in certain occasions"?

You can use alternatives like "sometimes", "on some occasions", or "in specific situations" depending on the context.

Which is more formal, "in certain occasions" or "under certain circumstances"?

"Under certain circumstances" is generally considered more formal than "in certain occasions". Use "under certain circumstances" in academic or professional writing.

Is there a difference between "in certain occasions" and "on certain occasions"?

While both are acceptable, "in certain occasions" focuses more on the situation itself, while "on certain occasions" emphasizes the time or event when something happens. The choice depends on the intended emphasis.