in sometimes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in sometimes" is not grammatically correct and should not be used in written English.
It is possible that someone might say it in spoken English as a slip of the tongue, but it should be corrected to "sometimes" in written language. Example: Incorrect: In sometimes, I like to go for a walk in the park. Correct: Sometimes, I like to go for a walk in the park.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

When you get rogue hawkers cutting in, sometimes you got to be forceful".

The New York Times

Yes, give in sometimes.

Huffington Post

Sometimes passers-by join in; sometimes not.

The New York Times

"Victoria's Secret models come in sometimes".

The New Yorker

But I do sneak in sometimes".

The New York Times - Sports

Sometimes Cameron joined in, sometimes not.

The New York Times - Sports

"Sometimes in, sometimes out," she said.

The Guardian - Sport

("We let them in sometimes," Mr. Kliegman said, shrugging).

The New York Times

It is what sustains the soldiers in sometimes brutal weather.

The New York Times

Fair dinkum, this sport does your head in sometimes.

The Guardian - Sport

People were thrown in, sometimes deck chair and all.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical accuracy, replace the phrase "in sometimes" with simply "sometimes". This ensures your writing is concise and adheres to standard English conventions.

Common error

Avoid using "in sometimes" as it is grammatically incorrect. Relying on non-standard phrases can undermine the credibility of your writing. Instead, opt for established adverbs of frequency like "sometimes", "occasionally", or "at times".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in sometimes" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to indicate frequency or occasional occurrence. However, it's grammatically unconventional and often considered incorrect, as pointed out by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "in sometimes" appears with relative frequency across diverse sources, including news and media, science, and business contexts, it's fundamentally grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the preposition "in" is superfluous, and the phrase should be simplified to just "sometimes". For clarity, precision, and grammatical accuracy, always opt for "sometimes" or similar alternatives like "occasionally" or "at times". The register leans toward informal usage, making it unsuitable for professional or academic writing. While this phrase is "Very common", it's more appropriate to use just "sometimes".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sometimes

Removes the unnecessary preposition "in", resulting in a grammatically correct adverb indicating occasional occurrence.

occasionally

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adverb denoting infrequent or irregular instances.

at times

Offers a more formal substitute, emphasizing that something happens during certain moments or periods.

from time to time

Suggests that something happens periodically but not very often.

on occasion

Indicates that something happens infrequently or irregularly, highlighting specific instances.

every so often

Implies that something occurs at somewhat regular but infrequent intervals.

now and then

Indicates occasional occurrence, suggesting a lack of regularity.

in some instances

Highlights that something happens in specific cases, but not universally.

in certain situations

Emphasizes the contextual dependency of an event, suggesting it only happens under particular conditions.

on several occasions

Indicates that something has happened more than once but not frequently.

FAQs

Why is "in sometimes" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "in sometimes" is grammatically incorrect because the preposition "in" is unnecessary and doesn't add any meaning to the adverb "sometimes". Using just "sometimes" is clearer and follows standard English grammar.

What can I say instead of "in sometimes"?

You can replace "in sometimes" with simpler alternatives like "sometimes", "occasionally", or "at times" depending on the context.

How to use "sometimes" correctly in a sentence?

You can use "sometimes" to indicate that something happens occasionally but not regularly. For example, "Sometimes I like to go for a walk in the park".

Is there a situation where "in sometimes" would be appropriate?

No, "in sometimes" is generally not considered appropriate in formal or standard English. It's best to avoid using it and opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "sometimes".