on two separate occasions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on two separate occasions" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to emphasize that something has happened twice, separated in time. For example: "I have seen him on two separate occasions, once at the bus station and once at the library."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Measurements were taken by two observers on two separate occasions, one to three weeks apart.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

These measurements were made on two separate occasions (within one week) and averaged.

British Medical Journal

The exams were performed on two separate occasions with a one-week interval between sessions.

BMC Oral Health

Only Michael Jordan had accomplished that -- on two separate occasions.

The New York Times - Sports

From Siberia.' " Lenin went to Siberia on two separate occasions.

The New Yorker

"Mission accomplie," Hannan quipped to me, on two separate occasions.

The Guardian

Each volunteer visited the centre on two separate occasions.

The Guardian

"Either they [the authorities] failed to pick up armed terrorists on two separate occasions or the same technical mistake was made on two separate occasions.

The Guardian

"Equally importantly the paper also exposed Greenpeace's dishonesty in using deceptive imagery on two separate occasions.

The Guardian

Martin had physically assaulted Strelchenko on two separate occasions, both times threatening to kill her.

The Guardian

I went to visit Yvette, the girl who'd been abducted and raped on two separate occasions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on two separate occasions" to add emphasis to the fact that something happened twice, particularly when the separation in time or context is relevant.

Common error

Avoid using adverbs of frequency such as "frequently" or "often" in the same sentence as "on two separate occasions" as it can create redundancy. For instance, instead of saying "He visited the museum on two separate occasions frequently", simply state "He visited the museum on two separate occasions".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on two separate occasions" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when or how often an action occurred. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in both scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on two separate occasions" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to emphasize that an event happened exactly twice. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and Ludwig's numerous examples demonstrate its frequent use across diverse contexts, particularly in science and news media. While alternative phrases like "twice" or "a couple of times" exist, "on two separate occasions" adds a degree of formality and emphasis on the separation between the events. Remember to avoid redundancy by not pairing it with adverbs of frequency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

twice

This is the most concise alternative, simply indicating the action happened two times.

on a couple of occasions

This alternative uses 'couple' to imply two instances but is slightly less formal.

on two different occasions

Adds emphasis that the occasions were not the same.

in two separate instances

Replaces 'occasions' with 'instances', focusing on the event itself.

on two distinct occasions

Emphasizes that the occasions were clearly differentiated.

a couple of times

A more informal way to say something happened twice.

two times

A more literal and less idiomatic way to express the same idea.

on more than one occasion

More general, indicating at least two times, but not specifying exactly how many.

repeatedly

Suggests the event happened more than once, but without specifying the exact number of times.

in two different settings

Highlights that the events took place in diverse environments or contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "on two separate occasions" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to indicate that something happened twice, usually with some time or difference between the two instances. For example, "I saw her "on two separate occasions" this week, once at the store and once at the park."

What are some alternatives to saying "on two separate occasions"?

You can use alternatives like "twice", "on a couple of occasions", or "in two separate instances" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "on two separate occasions" or "twice"?

"On two separate occasions" tends to be more formal than "twice". The former is often used in professional or academic writing to emphasize the distinction or separation between the two instances, whereas the later may be considered more appropriate for informal situations.

What's the difference between "on two separate occasions" and "on more than one occasion"?

"On two separate occasions" specifies exactly two instances, whereas "on more than one occasion" indicates that something happened at least twice, but potentially more times.