once a minute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "once a minute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or event that occurs one time within a one-minute interval. Example: "The machine is designed to dispense water once a minute to ensure a steady flow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We use proxies that change once a minute".

The Guardian - Tech

See the U.S. Navy Seals Facebook page here, where congratulaion notes are appearing once a minute.

The Washington Post

By 7 30 AM, orders were coming in once a minute, and the breakfast rush had yet to begin.

The New Yorker

Although the researchers were able to obtain data only every 15 minutes, some firms sample their networks once a minute.

The Economist

The recovered instrument, called an engine performance recorder, captures performance data from the engine once a minute, among other monitoring.

The New York Times

By means of trunnions & turntables, the light will be able to pivot up and down and to revolve once a minute.

The New Yorker

At least once a minute, I check the flaps, the engine sounds, the expressions on the faces of the flight attendants.

The New York Times - Magazine

With a plane taking off or landing once a minute, events can happen too quickly for instructions or authorizations from above.

MIT Technology Review

As it was, however, Sir John gave a brisk half-hour statement, in which the name "Blair" featured roughly once a minute.

The Guardian - Opinion

In a recent joint television interview with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, he raised Gallic eyebrows by mentioning the word Germany or German at least 15 times, or about once a minute.

The New York Times

Some people, hearing all the stories of Bradley's great moments, go to see him play and are disappointed when he does not do something memorable at least once a minute.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing automated processes or measurements, use "once a minute" to clearly communicate the frequency of the event. For example, "The server checks for updates once a minute to ensure real-time data synchronization."

Common error

Avoid using "once a minute" when you actually mean an action happens within a minute or for a minute. For example, instead of saying "The test ran once a minute", clarify if the test occurs every minute or lasts for one minute.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once a minute" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to indicate frequency. As Ludwig AI suggests, it denotes how often an action occurs, specifying it happens one time within a one-minute interval.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "once a minute" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverbial phrase that specifies an event occurs one time within a 60-second interval. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts, including news, science, and general informational writing. To ensure clarity, avoid confusing frequency with duration, and consider alternatives like ""every minute"" depending on the intended emphasis. With a source quality score of 87 and an expert rating of 4.5, "once a minute" provides a reliable way to express frequency in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every 60 seconds

Specifies the interval using seconds instead of minutes.

at one-minute intervals

Focuses on the intervals between occurrences.

each minute

Emphasizes the occurrence in every single minute.

per minute

A more concise way to express frequency within a minute.

on a minute-by-minute basis

Highlights the continuous nature of the action each minute.

minutely

A single word that means happening every minute.

one time per minute

More verbose, emphasizing a single occurrence.

at a frequency of one per minute

A technical and precise way to describe the rate.

at the rate of one a minute

Similar to 'per minute', but uses 'rate' for emphasis.

in every minute

Focuses on the inclusion of the action within each minute.

FAQs

How can I use "once a minute" in a sentence?

Use "once a minute" to indicate that something happens one time within a 60-second interval. For instance, "The data is refreshed "every minute", so the display updates "once a minute"."

What are some alternatives to "once a minute"?

Alternatives include phrases like ""every minute"", "each minute", or "per minute". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it better to say "once a minute" or "every minute"?

Both "once a minute" and ""every minute"" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "Once a minute" emphasizes the single instance, while ""every minute"" highlights the recurring nature of the event.

Can "once a minute" be used for timeframes other than a literal minute?

While "once a minute" typically refers to a 60-second interval, it can be loosely used to describe very frequent, near-constant actions. However, for clarity, it's best to use it for literal minutes or specify a different timeframe, such as "once an hour".