on various occasions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on various occasions" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to refer to multiple, non-specific times in the past, present, or future. For example, "I have seen him on various occasions throughout the years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Since that time, he has held brief "gaggles" with reporters on various occasions, including one at his Palm Beach resort's New Year's Eve party.

Huffington Post

I've heard on various occasions that some senior managers consider celebrities to be volunteers.

The Guardian

I've gotten to know him a little bit since, on various occasions.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The company was required by the courts on various occasions to replead its case.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's an issue that he's communicated on various occasions to officials of the department.

The New York Times

Indeed, they have been used on various occasions for just this purpose.

MIT Technology Review

Mr. de Blasio had intervened on behalf of Mr. Singh on various occasions.

The New York Times

I've done two interviews with him, as well as being with him on various occasions.

Princeton University

He had been hospitalized for cancer treatment on various occasions in Paris.

The New York Times - Arts

The quote from Rickman is not an anomaly, he vocalised support for women on various occasions.

Independent

I was left, on various occasions, body-weary, sleep-deprived and incredibly waterlogged.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place "on various occasions" near the verb it modifies for clarity. This improves readability and ensures the phrase's intended meaning is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "on various occasions" when the repetition is already implied by other words in the sentence. Redundancy can weaken your writing and make it seem less concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on various occasions" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the frequency or timing of an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and used across many writing styles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

11%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on various occasions" is a versatile and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate that something has happened multiple times. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and frequently used. It is found most often in News & Media, Academia, and Encyclopedias. While direct alternatives like "numerous times" or "repeatedly" exist, "on various occasions" offers a more nuanced way to express recurrence without specifying exact instances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on multiple occasions

Nearly identical in meaning, but slightly more formal.

numerous times

Emphasizes the high count of occurrences, conveying a sense of frequency.

on several instances

Highlights that the events happened more than once, focusing on the individual occurrences.

in several instances

Similar to "on several instances" but focusing on the specific events.

on diverse occasions

Highlights the variety of circumstances in which the event occurred.

at different times

Emphasizes the different points in time something occurred, rather than the frequency.

many a time

An idiomatic way to express frequency, implying the event happened often.

repeatedly

Indicates that the action happened over and over, stressing the repetitive nature.

from time to time

Suggests that the event occurs sporadically, not necessarily frequently.

at various junctures

Implies specific moments or points when something happened.

FAQs

How can I use "on various occasions" in a sentence?

Use "on various occasions" to indicate that something has happened multiple times, without specifying the exact instances. For example, "The company has faced similar challenges "on various occasions"".

What are some alternatives to "on various occasions"?

You can use alternatives like "repeatedly", "numerous times", or "on multiple occasions" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "on several occasions" or "on various occasions"?

Both "on several occasions" and ""on various occasions"" are correct and generally interchangeable. The choice depends on your preferred style. "Various" may suggest a wider range of circumstances, while "several" simply indicates more than a few times.

What is the difference between "on various occasions" and "sometimes"?

"On various occasions" implies that something happened more than just a few times, whereas "sometimes" suggests infrequent or irregular occurrences. "On various occasions" emphasizes repetition more strongly than "sometimes".