on two instances

USAGE SUMMARY

"on two instances" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is used to mean "on two occasions" or "in two cases." For example, "we have seen this behavior on two instances in the past month."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The Sussex protests, he says, are partly focused on two instances of privatisation: the handing-over of "facilities management" to the outsourcing firm Interserve, due to happen in January; and the contracting-out of "conference and catering" work to Chartwells, a subsidiary of the giant Compass group, which has meant changed terms and conditions, including zero-hours contracts.

The Guardian

On OpenStack, we have executed the tests on two instances.

Environmental Systems Research

To report on two instances of successful long-term cryopreservation resulting in live births.

Fertility and Sterility

The genetic algorithm operated on two instances to develop the envelope of improvement.

Smart Water

There, she engaged British light cruisers on two instances, and was damaged in both; she contributed to the damaging of the cruiser during the latter engagement.

Wikipedia

One volunteer had Grade 1 leukopenia on two instances: 57 days following first vaccination and 14 days following second vaccination.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The recent trial focused on three instances where the police were accused of framing gang members.

The New York Times

A forensic toxicologist in Wisconsin, Laura J. Liddicoat, gave a presentation at a national meeting on six instances of Ambien-impaired driving.

The New York Times

The appellants' election contest is based on five instances where the official results certified involved either the rejection of a number of legal votes or the receipt of a number of illegal votes.

The New York Times

House ethics investigators determined that on four instances between 2008 and 2010, Ms. Berkley intervened with officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs and with Medicare and Medicaid officials to inquire about delays in payments for her husband's Las Vegas-based kidney care practice.

The New York Times

Mr Coutts claims Clarkson was a regular visitor of his and once sent a helicopter to Auckland, which accordingly is a 15-minute flight and 35-minute ferry, on four instances for "things like cigarettes".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on two instances" when you want to refer to a specific number of times something has occurred, especially when emphasizing that it happened more than once.

Common error

Avoid using "on two instances" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "twice" or "on a couple of occasions" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on two instances" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It specifies the frequency or number of occurrences of an action or event. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used to indicate the number of times something happened.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

39%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on two instances" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate that something has occurred twice. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for use in both formal and neutral contexts, appearing frequently in scientific and news reporting. While "twice" is a simpler alternative, "on two instances" offers a more formal tone. When using this phrase, remember to vary your phrasing and use synonyms like "on a couple of occasions" to avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on two different occasions

Adds emphasis to the differences between the occasions.

in both instances

Implies that only two instances are under consideration.

in a couple of cases

Replaces "instances" with "cases" and uses "a couple of" instead of "two", slightly more informal.

in a couple of situations

Replaces "instances" with "situations" and uses "a couple of" instead of "two", slightly more informal.

on a pair of occasions

Substitutes "two instances" with "a pair of occasions", maintaining a formal tone.

in two separate situations

Uses "situations" instead of "instances", emphasizing the distinct nature of each event.

on two documented cases

Suggests that the "instances" are reported in a formal way.

on two distinct events

Replaces "instances" with "events", highlighting the occurrence of specific happenings.

twice

Simplifies the phrase to a single word, indicating the number of occurrences.

on a few occasions

Uses "a few" instead of "two", suggesting a small, unspecified number of times.

FAQs

What does "on two instances" mean?

The phrase "on two instances" means that something has occurred two separate times or in two specific cases. It's used to indicate the frequency or number of times an event has taken place.

How can I use "on two instances" in a sentence?

You can use "on two instances" to specify that an event or situation happened twice. For example, "The software crashed "on two instances" during the testing phase."

What can I say instead of "on two instances"?

You can use alternatives like "twice", "on a couple of occasions", or "in two separate situations" depending on the context. The phrase "in a couple of cases" is a more informal alternative.

Is it more formal to say "on two instances" than "twice"?

Yes, "on two instances" generally carries a more formal tone than simply saying "twice". Using "on a pair of occasions" is another formal option. The choice depends on the overall style and intended audience of your writing.