occasional instances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "occasional instances" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to specific occurrences that happen from time to time, rather than regularly or frequently. Example: "In our research, we found occasional instances of the phenomenon that warranted further investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

but I think these are glitches that have probably been addressed and solved" GP21: "...very occasionally we had occasional instances were it's not worked well, were a referral is a... we thought it's been sent but it hasn't or it hasn't been received so but that's maybe once a year".

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Kimberly-Clark estimates one in three women over 18 experience at least occasional instances of light bladder incontinence.

The New York Times

Other than the occasional instances – JLS, Alexandra Burke or Leona Lewis – Brit soul has had a white face for nearly a decade.

The Guardian - Music

The occasional instances of thuggery in the music business, with which it is closely associated, has only given the baggy, infantilizing look an attitude of bravado.

The New York Times - Style

Much more frequently cited are "alcohol, various prescription drugs, and cocaine", she said, with occasional instances where "marijuana is used in conjunction with other things".

The Guardian - Film

But these occasional instances are as nothing compared to the systematic, shockingly reckless efforts by supporters of Israel to conflate their cause with the Jews as a whole and their cynical cheapening of the charge of anti-semtism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

What lingers for a longer time in one's memory of the exhibition is Dali's indisputably high intelligence, and an occasional instance of real feeling.

The New York Times

But the scope of cheating on Quinn's mid-term went far beyond the occasional instance of plagiarism on a final paper.

Huffington Post

Welcome to Bad Cop Blotter, our weekly news roundup that compiles instances of cops behaving like assholes and the occasional instance of an officer actually serving and protecting the community.

Vice

Welcome back to Bad Cop Blotter, our weekly news roundup that compiles instances of cops behaving like assholes and the occasional instance of an officer actually serving and protecting the community.

Vice

Investors should have no logical reason to have preferred the winners of 2009 to the losers; both should be fairly priced already.Markets do throw up occasional anomalies for instance, the outperformance of shares in January or their poor performance in the summer months that may be too small or unreliable to exploit.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "occasional instances" to denote events that happen sporadically rather than regularly. It's suitable when describing situations where something is not the norm but does occur.

Common error

Avoid using "occasional instances" excessively in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise language that specifies the frequency or nature of the occurrences, such as "rare occurrences" or "sporadic cases", to enhance clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "occasional instances" functions as a noun phrase that modifies another noun. It indicates the presence of specific occurrences that are not regular or frequent. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "occasional instances" is a useful phrase for describing events that occur sporadically, but not regularly. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While considered grammatically sound and frequently used across diverse contexts, especially in News & Media and Science, it's essential to consider more precise alternatives for highly formal writing to enhance clarity. The phrase functions primarily to indicate frequency and is generally perceived as having a neutral tone. Remember to use "occasional instances" when you want to specify that something happens from time to time, but it's not a common occurrence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sporadic cases

Focuses on the scattered and irregular nature of the occurrences.

infrequent occurrences

Emphasizes the lack of frequency in the events.

isolated incidents

Highlights the singular and detached nature of the events.

rare instances

Stresses the uncommon and unusual nature of the events.

periodic events

Indicates that the events happen at somewhat regular, though infrequent, intervals.

occasional situations

Shifts the focus to the circumstances rather than the specific events.

uncommon situations

Highlights the unusual nature of the circumstances.

exceptional cases

Emphasizes the deviation from the norm in these situations.

seldom occurrences

Underlines the infrequency of events taking place.

scattered events

Emphasizes the distribution and lack of concentration of the events.

FAQs

How can I use "occasional instances" in a sentence?

You can use "occasional instances" to describe situations that happen from time to time but are not frequent. For example: "We observed "occasional instances" of errors during the experiment, warranting further investigation".

What are some alternatives to "occasional instances"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "sporadic cases", "infrequent occurrences", or "isolated incidents" as alternatives to "occasional instances".

Is "occasional instances" formal or informal?

"Occasional instances" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal or academic writing, consider using more precise synonyms.

What is the difference between "occasional instances" and "frequent instances"?

"Occasional instances" refers to events that happen rarely or infrequently, while "frequent instances" refer to events that happen often or regularly. The key difference is the frequency of occurrence.