on a rolling basis

USAGE SUMMARY

"on a rolling basis" is a correct phrase that is used in written English.
It is often used to indicate a continual or ongoing activity or process. For example, "We plan to hire new employees on a rolling basis throughout the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What Works Cities plans to expand to as many as 100 cities by 2017, admitting new ones on a rolling basis.

Huffington Post

Sayspring says it'll select invitations and roll out new invites on a rolling basis.

TechCrunch

We conduct one-hour-ahead ex-post forecasting on a rolling basis with the model being re-estimated every hour using two years of data.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

The figures are collected on a rolling basis.

Independent

Poetry submissions: Poetry is reviewed on a rolling basis.

The New Yorker

Cartoon submissions: Cartoons are reviewed on a rolling basis.

The New Yorker

That will not be easy to clear on a rolling basis.

The Guardian - Money

Most Wyoming counties have already participated in the straw poll, which is conducted on a rolling basis.

The New York Times

This is not the United States, where partial results appear on television screens on a rolling basis.

The New Yorker

Offerings come into the association on a rolling basis, and applications are submitted on the same rolling basis.

The New York Times

Five other states currently cover childless adults on waivers that expire on a rolling basis over the next three years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on a rolling basis" to clearly communicate that something is not a one-time event, but rather an ongoing process with continuous updates or actions.

Common error

Avoid using "on a rolling basis" when referring to a fixed, pre-determined schedule. This phrase implies flexibility and ongoing activity, not a static plan.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a rolling basis" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate how an action is performed. It describes a process that occurs continuously or periodically, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on a rolling basis" is a common and correct English phrase that functions as an adverbial phrase. It indicates that an action or process occurs continuously or periodically. According to Ludwig, the phrase is versatile and appropriate for various contexts, including news, science, and business, and is generally considered to have a neutral register. This means it can be used in both formal and informal communication. Understanding its meaning and appropriate use can enhance clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ongoing

Implies a state of being in progress, without necessarily indicating how changes occur.

continuously

This term indicates an uninterrupted sequence, emphasizing the lack of breaks in the activity.

incrementally

Focuses on small additions or increases over time.

progressively

This suggests advancement or development over time, implying a change or improvement.

gradually

This highlights a slow, step-by-step change, emphasizing the incremental nature of the activity.

in stages

Suggests a phased approach with distinct steps or periods.

periodically

This indicates occurrence at regular intervals, emphasizing the cyclical aspect of the activity.

successively

Implies a sequential order where one thing follows another.

over time

Highlights that the process unfolds across a duration, without specifying the nature of the progression.

as needed

Indicates that action is taken only when required, rather than following a set schedule.

FAQs

How can I use "on a rolling basis" in a sentence?

You can use "on a rolling basis" to describe processes that happen continuously or periodically, such as "We are accepting applications "on a rolling basis"" or "The data is updated "on a rolling basis"".

What are some alternatives to "on a rolling basis"?

Alternatives include "continuously", "progressively", or "gradually", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "applications are reviewed on a rolling basis"?

Yes, it is correct. This indicates that applications are reviewed continuously as they are received, rather than all at once after a deadline.

What does "updated on a rolling basis" mean?

It means that updates are made regularly and continuously, rather than in one large update. For example, a software program might be updated "on a rolling basis" with smaller patches released frequently.