maximum of two times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maximum of two times" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a limit or restriction on the number of times something can occur. For example, "You are allowed a maximum of two times to retake the test."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Males can mate a maximum of two times in their lifetime, depending on whether they remove one or both of their sperm-delivery appendages.

The New York Times - Science

In addition, the CFMT presents the same distracter faces several times (whereas the matching task presents the same distracter a maximum of two times for adults) thus requiring participants to recognise specific targets, rather than making a familiarity judgment.

Plosone

Peptides were analysed a maximum of two times and were then placed on an exclusion list for 1 min.

British Journal of Cancer

Cells are cultured until nearly confluent and then passaged a maximum of two times (P2), which yields a relatively pure population of cardiac myofibroblasts.

Cell Death and Disease

46 47 To optimise participation, the researcher made contact a maximum of two times in the following days (from 10 00 to 16:00, not on weekends).

BMJ Open

Class imbalance was prevented by jackknife subsampling of genomes from the more abundant classes to a maximum of two times the size of the smallest class [ 6]. Results are the average of 100 jackknife iterations.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The agreements announced today allow debts to rise to a maximum of six times Ebitda.

The New York Times

The highest-paid employee can earn a maximum of eight times the lowest.

The Guardian - Arts

The new rules means mortgage applications will be limited to a maximum of four times income on lending over £500,000.

The Guardian - Business

The new chief executive will be able to earn a maximum of five times his salary under the LTIP.

The Guardian - Business

The amount can be a maximum of three times the amount they have saved, which is the major control.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For more concise writing, especially in informal contexts, consider using "at most twice" or "no more than twice" as alternatives to "maximum of two times".

Common error

Avoid using phrases like "up to two times" when you intend to set a strict limit. "Up to" implies that fewer occurrences are acceptable, while "maximum of two times" establishes a clear upper bound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maximum of two times" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It specifies the upper limit on the frequency or number of times an action or event can occur. As shown in Ludwig, it's used to set constraints in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "maximum of two times" is a grammatically sound way to indicate an upper limit of twice for an action or event. Ludwig's analysis indicates it's most frequently used in scientific and news contexts. While grammatically correct, simpler alternatives like "at most twice" or "no more than two times" may be preferable for conciseness. Remember to use this phrase when you want to set a clear boundary and ensure that something does not occur more than twice. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at most twice

Replaces "maximum of" with "at most" and uses "twice" for brevity; slightly more informal.

no more than two times

Emphasizes the limit with "no more than", providing a slightly stronger restriction.

up to two times

Indicates the possibility of fewer occurrences; less strict.

a limit of two times

Replaces maximum of by limit of. It is a more formal structure.

two times or less

Explicitly includes the possibility of one or zero occurrences; changes emphasis slightly.

not exceeding two times

A more formal way to express the upper limit.

twice at the most

Inverts the structure, emphasizing the "twice" but maintaining the limit.

a maximum twofold

Uses "twofold" to condense the phrase, implying multiplication or a factor of two.

capped at two instances

Replaces "times" with "instances" and uses "capped" to indicate a strict limit.

limited to two repetitions

Emphasizes the repetitive aspect and uses "repetitions" instead of "times".

FAQs

How can I use "maximum of two times" in a sentence?

You can use "maximum of two times" to indicate an upper limit on the number of repetitions or occurrences of something. For example, "You can edit the document a "maximum of two times" before submitting it."

What's a simpler way to say "maximum of two times"?

Alternatives include "at most twice" or "no more than two times". These options are generally more concise and easier to read.

Is it ever appropriate to use "up to two times" instead of "maximum of two times"?

Yes, but the meaning is different. "Up to two times" implies that the action can be performed zero, one, or two times. "Maximum of two times" strictly limits the action to no more than two instances. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects your intended meaning.

What is the difference between "maximum of two times" and "twice"?

"Twice" means exactly two times. "Maximum of two times" allows for zero, one or two times; it sets an upper limit. If you want to express that something happens exactly two times, use "twice". If you want to set a limit, use "maximum of two times".