intermittently present

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intermittently present" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that appears or occurs at irregular intervals, rather than continuously. Example: "The signal was intermittently present, causing disruptions in the communication system."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Body language may be intermittently present, but communication strategies appropriate to delivering a presentation are absent.

Language Testing in Asia

In a very strange performance by Michael Warren Powell, Timothy seems only intermittently present.

The New York Times

Chelsea Through Thursday The weird, fleshy wildness intermittently present in Daniel Hesidence's paintings is coming into its own.

The New York Times - Arts

But in truth, regular people and daily life are only intermittently present in art at the Met, where deities, saints, rulers and hybrids of them tend to dominate.

The New York Times - Arts

And on her new CD, "Middle Cyclone," to be released in March by Anti- (a division of the punkish label Epitaph that features all their artists who aren't punk), Case displays a wide vocal and emotional range only intermittently present on her six previous recordings and in her regular releases with the Canadian power-pop band the New Pornographers.

The New York Times - Magazine

Great beasts are intermittently present and follow the free movements of wild forests reindeer.

Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Membranous fascin appeared mostly in the form of microspikes and intermittently was present on the edges of the cell membrane.

BMC Cancer

What happened: This year, NASA announced that their "Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has provided the strongest evidence yet that liquid water flows intermittently on present-day Mars".

Huffington Post

Tsushima Current molluscs are present intermittently during this period (Fig. 4).

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

(U Th)/He geochronology of 147 grains of goethite cements extracted from ferruginous duricrusts (cangas) developed on banded iron-formations from the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region, Minas Gerais, Brazil, records a history of protracted mineral dissolution reprecipitation that started at ca. 48.1 ± 4.8 Ma and continues intermittently until the Present.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

NTM could be present intermittently in low quantities in the airways of CF patients.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data or phenomena, use "intermittently present" to indicate that something does not appear consistently throughout the observation period. This adds precision to your description.

Common error

While similar, "irregularly present" might imply a lack of pattern in the distribution, whereas "intermittently present" simply emphasizes the non-continuous nature of the presence, without necessarily implying randomness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intermittently present" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, describing the manner in which something exists or appears. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English for denoting irregular or non-continuous presence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "intermittently present" is a grammatically correct and frequently employed expression utilized to describe the irregular or non-continuous presence of something. Predominantly found in scientific and news media contexts, it serves to precisely indicate that an entity's presence is not constant, appearing at intervals. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is usable in written English.

While similar terms exist, like "occasionally visible" or "sporadically available", the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When writing, it's important to consider the context; "intermittently present" is suitable for technical descriptions and formal reports, ensuring accuracy and clarity in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inconsistently present

Stresses the unreliable and variable nature of the presence.

on and off present

Indicates an alternating state of being present and absent.

irregularly occurring

Emphasizes the lack of a regular pattern in the occurrence.

occasionally visible

Focuses on the visual aspect of presence, emphasizing infrequent visibility.

at times present

Highlights that presence is not constant but happens sometimes.

sporadically available

Highlights the irregular availability rather than just presence.

fleetingly visible

Focuses on the brief and transient nature of visibility.

periodically 나타나는

Uses Korean for "appearing periodically", suitable for multilingual contexts or specific audiences.

now and then there

Informal phrasing suggesting presence at infrequent intervals.

desultorily apparent

Indicates presence in a disconnected or haphazard manner.

FAQs

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

You can use "intermittently present" to describe something that appears or occurs at irregular intervals. For example, "The signal was intermittently present, causing disruptions in the communication system."

What's a formal way to say "intermittently present"?

A more formal alternative to "intermittently present" could be "sporadically available" or "periodically 나타나는", depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "intermittently present"?

You can use alternatives like "occasionally visible", "sporadically available", or "irregularly occurring" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "intermittently present" and "constantly present"?

Yes, "intermittently present" means something appears or occurs at irregular intervals, while "constantly present" means something is always there or always happening.