it can sometimes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it can sometimes" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something occurs occasionally or under certain circumstances. Example: "It can sometimes be challenging to find a balance between work and personal life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It can sometimes seem so.

The New York Times - Arts

It can sometimes do more than that.

The New Yorker

It can sometimes make a person compassionate.

The New Yorker

It can sometimes be disturbingly worse.

The New Yorker

It can sometimes be a rough calculus.

The New York Times - Travel

But it can sometimes feel lonely.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It can sometimes create a cozy world.

The New York Times

It can sometimes be caused by gout or an infection.

Harvard University

It can sometimes even be crippling for a published work.

Columbia University

But it can sometimes be useful, especially for debtors.

The Economist

No wonder it can sometimes feel like a nightmare.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it can sometimes" to acknowledge exceptions or variations to a general rule or statement, adding nuance and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "it can sometimes" as it can make your writing repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using alternative phrases or rephrasing the sentence to improve flow and readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it can sometimes" functions as an adverbial modifier, expressing the frequency or probability of an action or state. Ludwig examples show it qualifying a wide range of verbs and adjectives, adding nuance by indicating that something occurs occasionally rather than always or never.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

24%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it can sometimes" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to express that something happens occasionally or under certain conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse sources, including news, academic writing, and general online content. While it's useful for adding nuance and avoiding generalizations, overuse can lead to repetitive writing, so it's advisable to vary sentence structure with alternatives. The phrase is generally neutral in register and serves the purpose of softening statements and acknowledging exceptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it may occasionally

Emphasizes the possibility of something happening from time to time.

it might sometimes

Indicates a slightly lower probability compared to "can".

it will occasionally

Suggests a future possibility or recurring event.

it does sometimes

Adds emphasis to the occasional occurrence.

it is known to sometimes

Implies awareness or recognition of the occasional occurrence.

on occasion it can

Inverts the structure, placing emphasis on the specific instances.

from time to time it may

More formal and drawn-out way of expressing occasional possibility.

occasionally it is able to

More formal and emphasizes capability or ability.

at times it happens to

Focuses on the event happening randomly or by chance.

it is liable to sometimes

Indicates a tendency or inclination for something to happen.

FAQs

How to use "it can sometimes" in a sentence?

"It can sometimes" is used to express that something happens occasionally or is true under certain circumstances. For example, "It can sometimes be challenging to find a balance between work and personal life."

What can I say instead of "it can sometimes"?

You can use alternatives like "it may occasionally", "it might sometimes", or "occasionally it is able to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it can sometimes" or "sometimes it can"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "it can sometimes" is more common and generally preferred. "Sometimes it can" places more emphasis on the frequency or occasion.

What's the difference between "it can sometimes" and "it can often"?

"It can sometimes" suggests a lower frequency than "it can often". "It can sometimes" implies that something happens occasionally, while "it can often" suggests it happens frequently.