on several instances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on several instances" is not correct; the correct expression is "on several occasions." You can use it when referring to multiple times something has happened or been observed.
Example: "On several occasions, I have noticed that the team works best under pressure."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

On several instances only one phenotypic character differentiates one species from another, and to further complicate some strains of enterococci do not posses the exact phenotypic character of the type strains, and there comes confusion over their exact taxonomic status [ 7].

BMC Infectious Diseases

On several instances, Park was the number one trending topic on Twitter, even topping the Oscars on March 8. Park's fans revealed plans to release a self-produced album in his honor on March 27 to commemorate the 200th day anniversary of his departure from Korea.

Wikipedia

But those relatives had a curious reaction when, on several instances Monday, they ran into local police officers.

The New York Times

This is significant because Zawahiri and Mullah Omar fell out after the former refused the orders of the latter on several instances – most notably before 9/11, when Mullah Omar called on Zawahiri not to attack America from Afghan soil.

The Guardian - Opinion

Investigators from the Navy and the National Transportation Safety Board, which is conducting a separate investigation, have focused on several instances where the submarine did not follow proper procedures, people familiar with both inquiries said.

The New York Times

The two had, on several instances, "petted and kissed," he told investigators at the time; but he stated — albeit in an "unusual" way — that they had not had sex, according to the complaint.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"They're good individuals, they're important members of our White House team, and that's why I spoke with them, so that I could come back to you and say that they were not involved," Mr. McClellan said at his televised briefing on Oct. 7, 2003, one of several instances in which he denied that Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby were responsible for the leak.

The New York Times

We then introduce heuristic and exact algorithms, and report extensive computational results on several instance classes, showing that in some cases the combinatorial approach allows for a fast solution of the problem, while in other cases one has to resort to the huge formulation for finding optimal solutions.

Discrete Applied Mathematics

Second, the nuclear threat was of no use in cases of civil war, insurgency, and other small-scale conflicts, a fact Stalin evidently relied on in several instances.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In addition to design effects on performance, several instances of poor material uniformity degrading the device performance have been observed.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Burnham said a key part of Labour's concerns with the legislation as it is currently drafted is the risk of misuse of the powers by state agencies, going on to detail several instances where he asserted state surveillance capabilities have been inappropriately used in the past.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Although commonly used, consider using the grammatically correct alternative "on several occasions" for improved clarity and professionalism in formal writing.

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "instances" when they mean "occasions". Remember that "occasion" refers to a specific time something happens, while "instance" refers to a particular example or case. Choose "on several occasions" for referring to multiple times.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on several instances" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the frequency with which an action or event occurs. Despite its common usage, Ludwig AI suggests that "on several occasions" is grammatically preferable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on several instances" is used to indicate that something has occurred multiple times. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically incorrect; the correct alternative is "on several occasions". While "on several instances" appears across various contexts like science, news, and wiki articles, adopting "on several occasions" enhances clarity and grammatical correctness, especially in formal writing. Remember to distinguish between "instances" and "occasions" for accurate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on multiple occasions

This alternative emphasizes distinct separate times something occurred.

in many instances

A nearly direct synonym, varying slightly in emphasis.

on several occasions

This corrects the grammatical error while maintaining the original intent.

on a number of occasions

Slightly more formal and emphasizes a quantity of occurrences.

in several cases

This alternative is more suitable when referring to specific situations or scenarios.

in several situations

More specific to particular circumstances rather than general occurrences.

numerous times

This phrase highlights the frequency of the occurrences.

repeatedly

This alternative stresses the recurring nature of an action or event.

on various occasions

This suggests a variety of different times or situations.

at various times

This phrase emphasizes the point in time when something happens.

FAQs

Is "on several instances" grammatically correct?

No, according to standard English grammar, the correct phrase is "on several occasions". While "on several instances" is sometimes used, it is generally considered incorrect.

What does "on several instances" mean?

It means "on multiple occasions" or "several times". It indicates that something has happened or been observed more than once.

Which is the correct phrase, "on several instances" or "on several occasions"?

The correct phrase is "on several occasions". "On several instances" is considered grammatically incorrect.

What are some alternatives to "on several instances"?

You can use phrases like "on multiple occasions", "numerous times", or "in several cases" depending on the specific context.