often

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'often' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something happens frequently or regularly. For example: "I often go for a run in the morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork.

The New York Times

The food market, while it shares that trait that everybody's in it, it is not a market in which your participation is often unpredictable and often involuntary".

The New York Times

North Korea's state media often boasts of successful military and space accomplishments, including the launch of a functional communications satellite, which are not independently verified by outside experts.

The Guardian

"History often vindicates those involved in such acts.

The Guardian

"Too often in the past our rhetoric undermined that positive relationship with business, and with the creation of jobs and wealth for the future.

The Guardian

But we'll know much more after the other side goes because arguments are often one-sided like this half way through.

The New York Times

These ambitions often generate friction with its neighbours, especially Tajikistan.

The Guardian

The basic problem is that we care so much about fairness that we are often willing to sacrifice economic well-being to enforce it.

The Economist

But Republican primary voters too often make the mistake of preferring an unattainable ideal to the best candidate who is actually running.

The Economist

Scandals that aren't out of tune with a celebrity's image are often surprisingly easy to bounce back from: after images of Kate Moss snorting coke surfaced, her bookings fell, but, over time, they went up.

The Economist

George Cukor, the second of four directors on the picture, got rid of the blonde wig and doll's makeup that Garland had been given, presumably to imitate Temple, and stressed the character's naturalness, a quality the younger star often lacked.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place "often" before the main verb (e.g., "I often visit") or after the auxiliary verb (e.g., "I have often visited") for clarity and emphasis.

Common error

Avoid placing "often" at the very end of a question. Instead of "Do you go there, often?", use "Do you often go there?"

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "often" is as an adverb of frequency. It modifies a verb to indicate how frequently an action occurs. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "often" functions as an adverb of frequency, indicating that something occurs frequently or regularly. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. It is best practice to place "often" before the main verb or after the auxiliary verb. While "oftentimes" exists, "often" is generally preferred in contemporary English. With a neutral register, "often" is appropriate for various formal and informal writing styles, predominantly appearing in news and media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frequently

Emphasizes a high rate of occurrence, similar to "often" but can sometimes imply a more structured or regular pattern.

regularly

Suggests a consistent and predictable pattern of occurrence, implying less variability than "often".

repeatedly

Highlights the recurrence of an action or event, focusing on the fact that it happens multiple times.

many times

A more literal way of expressing frequency, indicating a high number of occurrences without specifying regularity.

on many occasions

Formal expression that indicates that something happens in a certain number of times.

generally

Implies a broad pattern or trend, suggesting that something is usually the case or commonly happens.

in many instances

Formal way of saying it happens in a number of occurrences.

customarily

This signifies that something is done according to custom or habit.

time after time

This phrase is used to emphasize the repetition of an event.

habitually

This suggests a behavior or action that is done out of habit.

FAQs

How do I use "often" in a sentence?

"Often" is typically placed before the main verb (e.g., "I "often read" before bed") or after the auxiliary verb (e.g., "I have "often thought" about that").

What can I say instead of "often"?

You can use alternatives like "frequently", "regularly", or "repeatedly", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "often times"?

While "oftentimes" is a valid word, "often" is generally preferred in modern English. "Often times" is considered less formal and somewhat redundant.

What's the difference between "often" and "usually"?

"Often" indicates that something happens frequently, while "usually" implies that something happens in most cases or under normal circumstances. "Usually" suggests a higher degree of probability or expectation than "often".