mildly often

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mildly often" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward to native speakers.
It could be used in contexts where you want to describe something that happens with moderate frequency, but it is better to use more conventional expressions. Example: "I find myself mildly often visiting the same café on weekends."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

There I found this definition for "rotflmao": "A chat-room abbreviation used mainly by imbeciles, usually in response to something mildly, often very mildly, amusing.

The New York Times - Magazine

They entertained, sometimes mildly, often grandly – but always consistently.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I'm intrigued, mildly annoyed, often shocked, when fellow academics or authors invite me to justify my choices, as if they needed explanation.

The Guardian - Books

It specialises in mildly spiced, often coconut-based south Indian food of reasonably good quality, that rarely breaks the £5 mark.

The Guardian - Travel

Messrs Page and Brin, meanwhile, will sit next to him and exchange the odd knowing look, then add the occasional short, inappropriate and mildly embarrassing but often hyper-perceptive aside thyper-perceptive asidend forces Mr Schmidthat backpedalivensa few minuthingscond, they are drawn to pranks and diversions that are edupandonal—and ideally outrageous.

The Economist

And the use of supertitles was, to put it mildly, capricious and often confusing.

The New York Times

SO MANY religious-freedom arguments are about the entitlement of sub-cultures, often mildly idiosyncratic ones, to exist.

The Economist

"My Life on the D-List" is, like its star, always chipper and consistently — if often mildly — funny.

The New York Times

On the weekend of the cancelled Minnesota concerts, I took comfort in a sprawling, mildly chaotic, and often riveting six-hour new-music marathon at the Greenwich House Music School, staged by the violinist Hilary Hahn.

The New Yorker

Its programming is often mildly subversive, says Robert Thompson, director of the Centre for the Study of Popular Television (really) at Syracuse University.Disney, on the other hand, continues to make children's shows that embrace the whole family, not just for kids as independent agents.

The Economist

Even not intended, patients are often mildly hypothermic immediately after cardiac surgery.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more conventional phrases like "somewhat frequently" or "occasionally" to ensure clarity and avoid potential awkwardness for native English speakers.

Common error

Avoid combining adverbs in a way that sounds unnatural. Overusing phrases like "mildly often" can make your writing sound stilted. Instead, opt for a single, well-chosen adverb or a more common phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mildly often" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the degree and frequency of an action or state. It attempts to combine the notions of mildness and frequency. As Ludwig reports, it is not in common use.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

41%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mildly often" seeks to convey a moderate frequency combined with a moderate intensity. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is not a standard expression and may sound awkward. Therefore, it's generally advisable to opt for more conventional alternatives like "somewhat frequently" or "occasionally" to ensure clarity and naturalness. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Science. Although present in multiple domains, "mildly often" remains infrequent. Consider the context carefully before using this phrase, as it might not be the most effective choice for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat frequently

This alternative offers a more standard and easily understood expression of moderate frequency.

occasionally to a degree

This phrase adds a subtle emphasis on the extent of the action, suggesting it happens sometimes and to a limited extent.

moderately frequently

This conveys a sense of balanced frequency, suggesting neither high nor low occurrence.

somewhat regularly

This implies a predictable but not constant pattern of occurrence.

slightly frequently

This emphasizes a minimal level of frequency, indicating it happens just a bit more than rarely.

reasonably often

This suggests a level of frequency that is adequate or expected in a given context.

to a limited extent, often

This combines frequency with a degree of limitation, indicating both how frequently and how much something happens.

a little frequently

This is a more informal way of saying "slightly frequently", suitable for casual conversation.

kind of frequently

This informal phrase is similar to "somewhat frequently" but with a more casual tone.

in a somewhat frequent manner

This is a more verbose and formal way of expressing moderate frequency.

FAQs

Is "mildly often" grammatically correct?

While grammatically sound, "mildly often" is not a common phrase in English. Ludwig AI points out that it's acceptable but might sound awkward to native speakers. Consider using more standard alternatives.

What are some alternatives to "mildly often"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat frequently", "occasionally", or "moderately frequently" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "mildly often"?

Using "mildly often" might be appropriate when you want to emphasize both the moderate frequency and the moderate degree of an action, but be mindful of its uncommon usage. Ensure the context benefits from this specific nuance.

How can I make my writing sound more natural when describing frequency?

Opt for commonly used adverbs of frequency such as "sometimes", "often", "frequently", or use phrases like "every now and then" or "on occasion" to describe how often something happens.