intermittently working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intermittently working" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is functioning or operating at irregular intervals, rather than continuously. Example: "The internet connection has been intermittently working, making it difficult to complete my tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Tim had spent the year intermittently working on a futuristic novel, The Tower, which he had decided to abandon.

The Guardian - Books

LAMOA is not her first crack at redefining public space: since 2001, she has been intermittently working on a scheme to build an elevator to an abandoned section of the Glendale freeway overpass, so that visitors can experience its vast, concrete emptiness.

The New York Times

Hopefully this means we'll see some of the major bugs (like Apple Pay intermittently working and T-Mobile calls possibly dropping when switching from Wifi) get fixed very soon.

Forbes

The clock tower featured large astronomical instruments of the armillary sphere and celestial globe, both driven by an early intermittently working escapement mechanism (similarly to the western verge escapement of true mechanical clocks appeared in medieval clockworks, derived from ancient clockworks of classical times).

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Ben Affleck, in "Gone Baby Gone," his first directorial effort, intermittently works as an artist, too.

The New Yorker

In his later years Mr. Oliveira intermittently worked on "The Windhover," a series of large-scale landscapes.

The New York Times - Arts

Hemingway intermittently worked on this novel between 1954, when he and Mary Welsh returned from the safari in Kenya, which provides its narrative, and his suicide in 1961.

The New Yorker

For the last couple of years, he's made a cottage industry of lifting bits of old hip-hop songs and redelivering them in his sleepy drawl, a strategy that only intermittently worked on his recent debut album, "Excuse My French" (Bad Boy/Interscope), which revealed him as the sum of parts but not whole.

The New York Times - Arts

The prisoners also had to intermittently work on a farm, with Bertony being designated the "carotenfuhrer" - that is, the leader of the carrots - who was responsible for guarding silos full of the vegetable.

BBC

Public Execution was on display while it was in development before you as the largely anonymous French artist continued to intermittently work on new illustrations directly on the walls.

Huffington Post

One retiree had intermittently worked with fluorochemicals at the Decatur facility throughout the study period.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a device or system, use "intermittently working" to clearly convey that it is not consistently operational. This provides crucial information for troubleshooting or understanding limitations.

Common error

While "intermittently working" is generally acceptable, avoid using it excessively in highly formal reports or academic papers. Opt for more precise technical terms like "experiencing sporadic functionality" or "demonstrating inconsistent performance" for greater clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intermittently working" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the manner in which something is working. It indicates that the subject is not functioning continuously but rather in irregular intervals. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intermittently working" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that describes something operating irregularly. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's best used in neutral contexts like news or general descriptions, but more formal settings may require more precise language. Be mindful of the context and consider synonyms like "sporadically functioning" or "occasionally operational" for variety. The primary function of this phrase is to highlight the unreliable nature of the subject's operation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

working sporadically

Reorders the words but maintains the core meaning of inconsistent work.

sporadically functioning

Emphasizes the irregular and unpredictable nature of the function.

occasionally operational

Focuses on the times when something is in working order, implying it's not always so.

unreliably functional

Highlights the untrustworthy nature of the functionality.

irregularly operating

Highlights the lack of a consistent pattern in the operation.

operating at intervals

Focuses on the spaced-out occurrences of the operation.

periodically in service

Suggests that the service is available only at certain times.

erratically running

Implies unpredictable behavior in the operation.

functioning on and off

A more descriptive and informal way of saying something works at intervals.

working in fits and starts

Suggests a lack of smooth or consistent operation, with sudden bursts of activity.

FAQs

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

You can use "intermittently working" to describe something that functions or operates at irregular intervals. For example, "The internet connection has been intermittently working, making it difficult to complete my tasks."

What are some alternatives to "intermittently working"?

You can use alternatives like "sporadically functioning", "occasionally operational", or "irregularly operating" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "intermittently working"?

Yes, "intermittently working" is grammatically correct. It combines the adverb "intermittently" with the present participle "working" to describe an action that occurs at irregular intervals.

What does "intermittently working" imply about the subject?

Using "intermittently working" implies that the subject is not consistently reliable or functional. It suggests that there are periods when it works and periods when it does not.