make from time to time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make from time to time" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "made from time to time"? If this is the case, you can use it to indicate that something occurs occasionally or intermittently. Example: "The committee meets made from time to time to discuss ongoing projects."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Nearly all use escalators (which the big four also make) from time to time.

The Economist

"You can tell by the comments his teammates make from time to time".

The New York Times - Sports

This chapter also describes accidents caused by those slips and lapses of attention that even well-trained and well-motivated persons make from time to time.

What Went Wrong? Case Histories of Process Plant Disasters and How They Could Hare Been Avoided

In his talk, Dr. Weinberg described the anthropic principle as "the sort of historical realization scientists have been forced to make from time to time".

The New York Times - Science

In these cases, the researchers are best able to take advantage of the serendipitous discoveries they make from time to time.

MIT Technology Review

The survey also asked about "global well-being" by having each person rank overall life satisfaction on a 10-point scale, an assessment many people may make from time to time, if not in a strictly formalized way.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Stress measurements have been made from time to time.

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

Isolated experiments to marry films to specific classical music have been made from time to time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Refinements and variations of these zonal schemes are made from time to time as knowledge increases.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Efforts were made from time to time, unsuccessfully, to re-establish contact.

The New York Times - Arts

Corrections to corrections on simple matters of fact are made from time to time.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey intermittent action, consider using the passive voice construction "are made from time to time" or active voice with better verb choice, such as "adjustments are made from time to time" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "make from time to time" in formal writing. This phrasing is generally grammatically incorrect. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "are made from time to time", or active verb choices like "adjustments/changes are made from time to time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make from time to time" functions as a verbal phrase attempting to describe actions that occur periodically. However, it's often perceived as grammatically awkward. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase may not be correct in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

33%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make from time to time" attempts to convey actions or decisions occurring intermittently. However, Ludwig AI flags this phrase as potentially incorrect, suggesting alternatives like "are made from time to time" or more descriptive phrasings such as "make adjustments from time to time" for enhanced clarity. While examples show its presence across various domains, including News & Media and Science, the grammatical ambiguity suggests caution in formal writing. Therefore, opting for more precise alternatives not only improves grammatical accuracy but also ensures clearer communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make adjustments from time to time

Rephrases with 'adjustments' to focus on modifications or changes made periodically.

make changes from time to time

Rephrases to emphasize the act of altering or varying something periodically.

make exceptions from time to time

Highlights the making of occasional allowances or deviations from a rule.

make mistakes from time to time

Focuses specifically on the occasional occurrence of errors.

are made from time to time

Uses a passive construction to shift the focus from the actor to the action being performed intermittently.

do it every so often

Emphasizes the periodic nature of an action, implying it is done at irregular intervals.

carry it out every now and then

Indicates that an action is performed sporadically or occasionally.

undertake it from time to time

Replaces 'make' with 'undertake', suggesting a more formal or deliberate approach to occasional action.

perform it periodically

Emphasizes the regular but not necessarily frequent occurrence of an action.

take it up intermittently

Suggests that an activity is engaged in and then discontinued at irregular intervals.

FAQs

Is "make from time to time" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "make from time to time" is not considered grammatically correct. Prefer using "are made from time to time" or rephrasing to include better verb choices such as "make adjustments from time to time".

What are some alternatives to "make from time to time"?

Instead of "make from time to time", you can use phrases such as "are made from time to time", "make adjustments from time to time", or simply use adverbs like "occasionally".

How can I improve the clarity of sentences using "make from time to time"?

To enhance clarity, replace "make from time to time" with more specific actions. For instance, use "make payments from time to time" or "make changes from time to time" to give more context.

What's the difference between "make from time to time" and "are made from time to time"?

"Make from time to time" is generally grammatically incorrect. The passive construction "are made from time to time" is preferable as it's grammatically sound, indicating that certain actions or changes occur periodically.