off and on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "off and on" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate that something happens intermittently or at irregular intervals. For example, "He's been working off and on for the past few weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Turn it off and on again".

The Guardian - Books

You've got scenery moving off and on, actors moving off and on, stagehands rearranging the sets.

The New York Times

She worked off and on as a graphic designer.

The New Yorker

Virginia had kept a diary, off and on, since 1897.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He spent fifteen years, off and on, working at it.

The New Yorker

They drank, off and on, for several days.

The Economist

Off and on, during the afternoon and into the night.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Mr. McKay's off-and-on existence continued.

The New York Times

Their off-and-on relationship had started in 2012.

Independent

They've seen it off-and-on.

Huffington Post

Dylan's off-and-on engagement with politics is intriguing.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "off and on" to describe actions or states that are not continuous but recur at irregular intervals. For example, "The internet connection was working "off and on" all day."

Common error

Don't use "off and on" if you mean something happened continuously but with varying intensity. For example, instead of saying "It rained "off and on" for an hour" when it rained continuously, rephrase to "It rained for an hour, sometimes heavily and sometimes lightly."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "off and on" functions as an adverb, modifying verbs to indicate that an action or state occurs intermittently or at irregular intervals. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to describe happenings that aren't continuous. For example, "The lights flickered "off and on"" shows the intermittent nature of the flickering.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

25%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "off and on" serves as an adverbial phrase denoting intermittent or irregular occurrences. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct and widely used in English. With numerous examples available, "off and on" appears frequently in news, media, and scientific contexts. While its register is generally neutral, it's crucial to avoid using it when continuity is implied. Remember to choose more precise terminology in highly formal academic papers, such as "periodically" or "sporadically".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on and off

A reversed version of the original phrase with the same meaning.

intermittently

Single word alternative that conveys the same meaning of occurring at irregular intervals.

sporadically

Similar to intermittently, but emphasizes the scattered nature of the occurrences.

irregularly

Highlights the lack of a fixed pattern in the occurrences.

inconsistently

Focuses on the lack of consistency in how often something happens.

periodically

Suggests occurrences at more regular intervals, but still not continuous.

now and then

An idiomatic expression indicating occasional occurrences.

every so often

Emphasizes the infrequency of the occurrences.

from time to time

Similar to "at times", but with a slightly more formal tone.

at times

A simpler way to indicate that something happens occasionally.

FAQs

How can I use "off and on" in a sentence?

You can use "off and on" to describe something that happens intermittently. For example, "He worked "on and off" on the project for five years."

What is a synonym for "off and on"?

A synonym for "off and on" is "intermittently". This word can replace the phrase while retaining its meaning.

Is "off and on" the same as "on and off"?

Yes, "off and on" and "on and off" are interchangeable and have the same meaning. Both phrases describe something that happens at irregular intervals.

When is it appropriate to use "off and on" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "off and on" when describing situations or activities that occur at irregular or sporadic intervals, rather than continuously. Use alternatives like "periodically" or "sporadically" when you need a more formal tone.