intermittent absence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intermittent absence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is not consistently present, often in contexts like work or school attendance. Example: "Due to his intermittent absence from class, he struggled to keep up with the coursework."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Dealing with the intermittent absence of his father, and, he recalled, feeling like an outsider among his peers, he had a troubled adolescence; once a promising student, he began drinking and taking drugs.

Independent

Intermittent absence is an expected consequence of a recurrent painful disorder, visible and within limits credible to employers; and it is relatively easy to measure.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Participants performed a reversal learning task with intermittent absence of reward delivery.

Plosone

Tell that employee, "You must let me know when you're taking a subsequent intermittent absence for FMLA-covered reasons and that it's for the condition you got permission for some months ago.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He said: "As employees are required to give a minimum of 15 weeks' prior notice of their expected week of childbirth, employers can plan for maternity leave in a way that is often easier to deal with than unexpected short-term or intermittent absences.

The Guardian

Schwartz states that, for better or worse, she was forced into thinking independently early on during her career because of the intermittent absences of her thesis and postdoctoral advisers.

Science Magazine

You have to return the person to the prior job once the intermittent absences are concluded.

WikiHow

Fever in children presenting with coma is usually intermittent, and absence of raised temperature or a subjective history of fever at admission does not necessarily mean that there was not any occurrence of fever during the illness.

BMJ Open

A further relevant distinction between systems can be made based on their flow permanence; perennial streams (continuous flow), intermittent streams (absence of flow during a few weeks or months) and ephemeral streams (flow only for hours or days following heavy rainfall).

Freshwater Biology

A semi-quantitative method was used to classify the blood flow of each small vessel as follows: (0) absent (no flow or filled with microthrombosis), (1) intermittent flow (absence of flow for at least 50% of the time), (2) sluggish flow, and (3) continuous flow [ 19].

Critical Care

Because of such intermittent activity and the absence of a tank to corrode, tankless units tend to last 20 to 25 years, versus 8 to 10 years for a tank heater, according to the Energy Department.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When documenting employee attendance, clearly define what constitutes "intermittent absence" to avoid ambiguity. Specify the frequency and duration considered intermittent.

Common error

Avoid using "intermittent absence" when referring to a single, extended period of absence. "Intermittent" implies a pattern of recurring absences, not one continuous stretch.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intermittent absence" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "intermittent" modifies the noun "absence". As evidenced by Ludwig, it typically describes a recurring pattern of being away or unavailable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intermittent absence" correctly describes a situation of irregular or sporadic absence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While relatively rare, with only four exact examples found, its applications span across scientific, news, and wiki contexts. Related phrases include "sporadic absence" and "occasional absence". When using "intermittent absence", ensure it accurately reflects the recurring nature of the absence, distinguishing it from a continuous, extended leave. Remember to check the legal implications related to FMLA.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sporadic absence

Replaces "intermittent" with "sporadic", emphasizing irregularity.

occasional absence

Substitutes "intermittent" with "occasional", highlighting infrequency.

irregular absence

Uses "irregular" instead of "intermittent" to convey a lack of consistent presence.

periodic absence

Replaces "intermittent" with "periodic", suggesting absence occurs at intervals.

temporary absence

Highlights the temporary nature of the absence, rather than the intermittent quality.

on-and-off absence

Informal alternative to "intermittent", emphasizing the fluctuating pattern.

fluctuating presence

Shifts focus from absence to presence, emphasizing its variable nature.

inconsistent attendance

Focuses on the lack of consistent attendance.

erratic attendance

Similar to 'inconsistent attendance' but emphasizes unpredictability.

interrupted attendance

Highlights that attendance is broken or halted at intervals.

FAQs

How do I use "intermittent absence" in a sentence?

You can use "intermittent absence" to describe situations where someone is not consistently present, such as "Due to his "intermittent absence" from work, his projects were delayed."

What is a good substitute for "intermittent absence"?

Alternatives include "sporadic absence", "occasional absence", or "irregular attendance". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "intermittent absence" formal or informal language?

"Intermittent absence" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness largely depends on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the communication.

What are the legal implications of "intermittent absence" under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?

Under the FMLA, employees may be eligible for intermittent leave, allowing them to take time off in separate blocks of time due to a single qualifying reason. This differs from continuous leave, where time off is taken consecutively.