interspersed

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "interspersed" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to place something in or throughout something else at intervals. You can use this word when you want to describe something that has been placed or scattered within something else sporadically or at random. Example sentence: The cityscape was dotted with tall buildings interspersed with small green parks.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There are posts about "Europe's 20 most beautiful castles" and "signs that show you are dating the wrong girl", interspersed with political posts about Ukraine or suggesting that the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is corrupt.

The Guardian

Set in a small Tuscan town it puts before us not only the expatriate protagonists but also the town itself, its history, its local residents and their life histories, all interspersed with scholarly digressions.

The Guardian - Books

The ascent is gradual with long straight runs, though interspersed with innumerable roadworks where the surface is little better than a freshly ploughed field.

The Guardian - Travel

That said, lessons were interspersed with good lunches at anchor, snorkelling and swimming off the boat, breaks on silky white beaches and motoring ashore by dinghy to fine beachside restaurants for conch fritters, mahi mahi, and mango salsa in the evenings.

The Guardian - Travel

Cafés and lounges are interspersed with work desks and whiteboards, and there is free Wi-Fi everywhere.

The Economist

A few minutes later, its Channel 2 slot carried the logo of TVes, a new government-run channel with a worthily anodyne schedule of cooking and cultural programmes, interspersed with cartoons and propaganda for the man who shut down RCTV, Venezuela's leftist president, Hugo Chávez.He announced in December that there would be no more broadcasting for the "fascists" and "coup-plotters" of RCTV.

The Economist

Some of the homes were lushly landscaped, with hibiscus flowers and orange trees, although others were broken-down shacks interspersed with piles of lumber and rubble.

The Economist

Karachi manages to hold together because bouts of brutal, though contained, violence are interspersed with dealmaking and calm.

The Economist

BlackBerrys and iPhones provide relentless stimuli interspersed with rewards.

The Economist

The story is interspersed with digressions on the lives of Bach and Casals, which deftly reveal how contemporary politics shaped their music, and buffeted their careers.

The Economist

Each mouse made a series of "chirps" with bursts of closely spaced notes interspersed with lulls.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "interspersed" when you want to emphasize that items are placed or scattered at intervals, creating a varied or diverse arrangement. It works well when describing physical spaces, textual content, or abstract ideas.

Common error

Avoid using "interspersed" when you mean to describe a homogenous mix. "Interspersed" implies distinct separation, whereas words like 'blended' or 'integrated' are more appropriate for a continuous combination.

Linguistic Context

The word "interspersed" functions primarily as an adjective, describing something that is placed or scattered at intervals among other things. Ludwig examples show how it modifies nouns to indicate distribution within a context. Ludwig AI confirms its proper grammatical use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "interspersed" is a versatile adjective used to describe items placed or scattered among others at intervals. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it offers a way to convey distribution or arrangement, as demonstrated in the provided examples. Related phrases such as "scattered among" and "distributed throughout" can be used as alternatives, depending on the nuance you want to convey. Remember to avoid using "interspersed" when a homogenous blend is intended, opting instead for words like 'blended' or 'integrated'. With its clear grammatical function and frequent appearance in reputable sources, "interspersed" is a valuable addition to your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scattered among

Emphasizes a less organized, more random distribution.

distributed throughout

Suggests a more even and deliberate arrangement.

dotted with

Implies small, discrete elements spread across a surface.

strewn among

Conveys a sense of being scattered or sprinkled loosely.

mixed in with

Suggests a less distinct separation, more of a blend.

peppered with

Implies a frequent, almost overwhelming distribution.

intermingled with

Highlights the close combination and blending of elements.

sprinkled throughout

Indicates a lighter, more delicate distribution.

littered with

Suggests a messy, often unwanted scattering.

punctuated by

Emphasizes the interruptions or contrasts created by the distributed elements.

FAQs

How do I use "interspersed" in a sentence?

Use "interspersed" to describe elements that are placed or scattered among others at intervals. For example, "The garden had flowers "interspersed with" herbs."

What's the difference between "interspersed" and "scattered"?

"Interspersed" suggests a more deliberate or structured distribution, while "scattered" implies a random or haphazard arrangement. Therefore, scattered is usually closer to phrases like "strewn among" or "littered with".

What can I say instead of "interspersed"?

You can use alternatives like "scattered among", "distributed throughout", or "dotted with" depending on the context.

Is "interspersed with" always the correct preposition to use?

While "interspersed with" is common, other prepositions like 'among' or 'throughout' can be appropriate depending on the intended meaning. For instance, "microRNA genes interspersed among sets of protein-encoding genes" can be reworded in the alternative form of "microRNA genes interspersed throughout sets of protein-encoding genes".