in frequency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in frequency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the occurrence or rate of something over a specific period of time. Example: "The data showed a significant increase in frequency of the events over the last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Are those mistakes reducing in frequency?

The Guardian - Sport

That would be a negligible increase in frequency.

The New York Times - Sports

The beeps of Chigurh's tracking device increase in frequency.

The New York Times

"First, heavy rainfall events are increasing in frequency every year, which is attributed to climate change.

The Guardian

Hulagu had epilepsy, and its seizures increased in frequency as he got older.

The New Yorker

Relief organisation UOSSM said: "Attacks on aid workers have skyrocketed, both in frequency and intensity.

The Guardian

The dozens of aftershocks have also slowly subsided over the months, in frequency and intensity.

The Guardian

Brawls – many racially motivated – had been steadily growing both in frequency and number.

The Guardian

There is some evidence to show that these have already increased in frequency".

The Guardian

The inane grins are likely to increase in frequency & decrease in spontaneity as 1960 grows older.

The New Yorker

Though his letters became less frequent as time passed, her letters increased in frequency.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing the occurrence of different events, use "in frequency" to highlight which one happens more often over a given period. For example, "attacks on aid workers have skyrocketed, both "in frequency" and intensity."

Common error

Avoid using "in frequency" when "in intensity" or "in magnitude" is more appropriate. "In frequency" refers specifically to how often something happens, not its strength or size. Using the wrong phrase will confuse the meaning. For example, you should say "the earthquakes have increased in intensity", and not "the earthquakes have increased "in frequency"".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in frequency" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying how often an event occurs. According to Ludwig, the structure is grammatically sound and commonly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in frequency" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier. According to Ludwig, it effectively communicates the rate or number of occurrences of an event. It is primarily found in News & Media and Science contexts, with a neutral register suitable for formal writing. Alternatives include "in incidence", "in rate", and "in occurrence". When using "in frequency", ensure it accurately reflects how often something happens, and avoid confusing it with related concepts like intensity or magnitude.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in incidence

Replaces "frequency" with "incidence", focusing on the rate at which something occurs.

in rate

Substitutes "frequency" with "rate", highlighting the measure or quantity of occurrence.

in occurrence

Uses "occurrence" instead of "frequency", emphasizing the fact of something happening.

in prevalence

Replaces "frequency" with "prevalence", suggesting how widespread or common something is.

in periodicity

Uses "periodicity" instead of "frequency", focusing on the recurring intervals of an event.

in timing

Substitutes "frequency" with "timing", emphasizing when events happen in relation to each other.

in regularity

Replaces "frequency" with "regularity", emphasizing consistent intervals of events

in recurrence

Uses "recurrence" instead of "frequency", which emphasizes that an event occurs multiple times

with increasing frequency

Reformulates the phrase to emphasize the direction of change in how often something happens.

in cycles

Replaces "frequency" with "cycles" stressing repeated sequences

FAQs

What does "in frequency" mean?

The phrase "in frequency" refers to how often something occurs over a specific period. It indicates the rate or number of times an event happens.

How can I use "in frequency" in a sentence?

You can use "in frequency" to describe the trend of events. For example, "Mass shootings are increasing "in frequency". Another example is: Attacks on aid workers have skyrocketed, both "in frequency" and intensity.

What are some alternatives to saying "in frequency"?

Alternatives include phrases like "in incidence", "in rate", "in occurrence", or "with increasing frequency", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "increase in frequency"?

Yes, "increase in frequency" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase. It indicates that the number of occurrences of something is rising over time.