intermittent schedule

USAGE SUMMARY

"intermittent schedule" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a schedule that is not continuous and has breaks or pauses. For example, "The training sessions will follow an intermittent schedule to accommodate various participants." Alternative expressions include "irregular schedule" and "sporadic schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Picketing will continue, though on an intermittent schedule because of the Thanksgiving holiday Thursday.

The New York Times

Conclusion: In an intermittent schedule, although well tolerated, at doses of 1mg/kg/day, AB was not effective in long-term treatment of chronic hypoxemia in COPD patients.

Respiratory Medicine

Using the intermittent schedule, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was comparable for the two routes (15 mg/kg), but the toxicity profile suggested a better tolerability in terms of lethal effects after oral administration.

European Journal of Cancer

At 6 years, 48% of patients were still on the intermittent schedule.

Blood Cancer Journal

Therefore, we pursued this regimen with intermittent schedule using sorafenib 5 days of 7 each week.

British Journal of Cancer

Therefore, even an intermittent schedule can improve the response, with time.

Blood Cancer Journal

Fewer patients required sorafenib dose reduction with the intermittent schedule (41 vs 74% daily, P=0.01).

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

In Study 1, a multiple baseline across subjects design was used with four horses to determine first the effects of shaping target-touch responses and then successive approximations of full truck loading under continuous and intermittent schedules of reinforcement.

Behavioural Processes

It examines LEO constellations and highlights the advantages offered by some Bundle Protocol features, such as scheduled links, and by CGR (contact graph routing), a DTN routing algorithm designed by NASA to cope with intermittent scheduled connectivity typical of both LEO satellite and deep space communications.

Advances in Delay-Tolerant Networks (DTNs) Architecture and Enhanced Performance

He was transferred from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility with a need for intermittent scheduled hemodialysis and eventually discharged home.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

The MTD was identified as a 24-hour area under the curve (AUC) of approximately 7095 μM/min, which represents a 43% increase over the standard total daily AUC dose of 4800 μM/min given by intermittent schedules.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical documentation, contrast this phrase with a "continuous schedule" to provide clear operational boundaries.

Common error

Avoid using "intermittent schedule" to describe things that are happening randomly or due to error. If the timing is unplanned, use "unpredictable timing" or "erratic frequency" instead.

Linguistic Context

"intermittent schedule" functions as a compound noun phrase where the adjective "intermittent" modifies the noun "schedule". According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used as the object of a preposition (e.g. "on an "intermittent schedule"") to define the parameters of a time-based activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

92%

News & Media

5%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "intermittent schedule" is a robust and grammatically correct phrase frequently used to describe structured, non-continuous routines. Data from Ludwig AI highlights its significant prevalence in scientific and medical fields, particularly concerning drug administration cycles designed to manage toxicity. While it can also describe news-related events like sporadic picketing, its most valuable application is in technical writing where a distinction from "continuous" activity is necessary. Writers should favor this term when the pauses in a schedule are intentional and organized rather than random.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

non-continuous schedule

Uses a more technical negator to emphasize the lack of continuity.

discontinuous schedule

Specifically denotes a break in a sequence or flow.

periodic plan

Suggests occurrences at fixed intervals rather than random breaks.

cyclical schedule

Implies a repeating pattern of activity and rest.

staggered routine

Focuses on the arrangement of events in non-parallel or overlapping steps.

irregular schedule

More informal; implies a lack of consistent timing compared to a planned intermittent one.

alternating schedule

Specifies a pattern where two different states or tasks switch back and forth.

sporadic timetable

Conveys a sense of randomness or infrequent occurrences.

broken pattern

Highlights the interruption of what would otherwise be a steady sequence.

fitful timing

Suggests a more erratic or unsteady series of events.

FAQs

How to use "intermittent schedule" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a non-continuous plan, for example: "The medication was administered on an "intermittent schedule" to reduce side effects" or "The workers agreed to an "intermittent schedule" due to the holiday."

What is the difference between "intermittent schedule" and "continuous schedule"?

A continuous schedule implies an uninterrupted, daily routine, while an "intermittent schedule" involves planned breaks or rest periods between active phases.

Can I use "irregular schedule" instead of "intermittent schedule"?

While similar, an "irregular schedule" often implies a lack of planning, whereas an "intermittent schedule" is usually a deliberate and structured arrangement.

Is it correct to say "periodic schedule"?

Yes, a "periodic schedule" is a valid alternative, though it usually emphasizes that the events happen at very specific, fixed intervals.