intermittently

USAGE SUMMARY

'intermittently' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs at regular intervals, alternately starting and stopping or pausing and resuming. For example, "The engine sputtered intermittently as we drove along the winding highway."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For those who know little about Turner's life, it's a jolt to accept that the creator of paintings of genius was a faulty bloke with an intermittently uncivil tongue, a tendency to grunt and a contradictory attitude towards women.

The Guardian - Film

Intermittently I was compelled to peel the gloves off and head for the bathroom to wash my hands.

The Guardian

This is because Fianna Fáil's policies here are only intermittently SDLP-compatible, and some level of consistency must be maintained.

The Guardian - Opinion

If it's true – and not one of those annoying Alison Jackson lookalike stunts that end up intermittently being shoehorned into newspapers when there's nothing else to talk about – the shame they'll both feel this morning will be profound.

The Guardian

I've intermittently dabbled with optimism in the past, and it's never ended well.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Sun has yanked out that old photo of Ed Miliband and the sandwich, screaming a fiery-eyed warning to readers about the repercussions of letting the country be run by someone who'll intermittently allow themselves to be strung up by mischievous picture editors.

The Guardian

I have meditated intermittently for years, and I know that it works.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

After a hundred steps you're on your own, only intermittently overtaken by toy-town service vehicles or old women climbing home from the shops.

The Guardian - Travel

Intermittently since 2010, he and Clegg have been in talks about the feasibility of repeating the exercise – on some basis.

The Guardian - Opinion

Church says officers cuffed him to a bench for an estimated 17 hours, intermittently interrogating him without reading his Miranda rights to remain silent.

The Guardian

Norwich could find their passing groove only intermittently but Russell Martin would have shot them into the lead in the 15th minute after receiving a corner from Nathan Redmond if Anderson had not been perfectly placed to whack the defender's 16-yard drive off the line.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "intermittently" to describe processes or actions that start and stop at irregular intervals. For example, "The Wi-Fi connection worked intermittently throughout the day."

Common error

Avoid using "intermittently" when you mean "infrequently". "Intermittently" implies a recurring pattern of stopping and starting, whereas "infrequently" simply means something doesn't happen often.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "intermittently" modifies verbs, indicating that an action occurs at intervals, ceasing and then restarting. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where it describes processes that are not continuous but happen periodically.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intermittently" is a versatile adverb used to describe actions or processes that start and stop at intervals. Ludwig AI's analysis, confirmed by the numerous examples provided, demonstrates that it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, especially in news and media. When using "intermittently", ensure it accurately reflects the discontinuous nature of the action and is not confused with words like "infrequently". Remember to consider related phrases such as "periodically" and "sporadically" to precisely convey your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

periodically

Refers to occurrences at somewhat regular intervals; emphasizes a pattern more than "intermittently".

sporadically

Highlights the irregular and unpredictable nature of the occurrences; lacks the implied regularity of "intermittently".

occasionally

Suggests that something happens now and then, but not frequently or regularly; less emphasis on the stopping and starting.

at intervals

Directly indicates the presence of gaps or pauses between occurrences; a more literal and descriptive phrase.

off and on

Emphasizes the alternating nature of the occurrence, with periods of activity followed by periods of inactivity; more informal.

now and then

Similar to "occasionally", highlighting infrequent occurrences without suggesting a specific pattern; also more informal.

irregularly

Stresses the lack of a consistent pattern or timing in the occurrences; may imply unpredictability.

on occasion

Similar to "occasionally", this suggests something that happens sometimes, but not as a routine matter.

in fits and starts

Indicates actions that are characterized by short bursts of activity followed by pauses or interruptions; implies a lack of smooth progression.

by turns

Suggests that something happens alternately, first one thing and then another, with a clear sequence of changes.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "intermittently" in a sentence?

Use "intermittently" to describe actions or processes that stop and start repeatedly but not constantly. For example, "The rain fell "intermittently" throughout the afternoon".

What words are good alternatives to "intermittently"?

Depending on the context, consider alternatives like "periodically", "sporadically", or "occasionally".

Is it correct to use "intermittently" to describe a constant action?

No, "intermittently" should not be used to describe a constant action. It implies that the action stops and starts. For constant actions, consider words like "continuously" or "constantly".

What's the difference between "intermittently" and "occasionally"?

"Intermittently" suggests a recurring pattern of stopping and starting, while "occasionally" simply means something happens sometimes but not frequently.