once every so often

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "once every so often" is correct and usable in written English.
It means occasionally but not on a regular basis. You can use it when you are talking about an event or activity that happens infrequently. For example, "I like to escape the city and go camping once every so often."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Once every so often, something happens that goes on to transfix and define a generation.

Vice

And once every so often there'll be someone to call you a faggot, to remind you, just when you might have relaxed – we're watching.

Vice

They are dabbling in social media once every so often, reading about the trends six months after they've happened and not grasping the nonstructured, nonlinear nature of the medium are all characteristics of this latter camp.

Huffington Post

Be subtle and only take a few things at a time once every so often.

WikiHow

Use this method only once every so often, as it is powerful.

WikiHow

By removing obstacles, you will receive a random amount of gems and maybe 10 gems once every so often.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

EVERY so often it happens.

The New York Times

EVERY so often someone declares ballet dead.

The New York Times - Arts

"Put it like this," he wrote: "In every Scottish brain, there has been a tiny blue-and-white cell which secretes an awareness: 'My country was independent once.' And every so often, the cell has transmitted a minute, almost imperceptible pulse: 'Would it not be grand, if one day … ' But this stimulated other larger, higher-voltage cells around it to emit suppressor charges: 'Are you daft?

The Guardian - Opinion

He once published a book called Every So Often, because every so often you turn a corner and find something beautiful.

The Guardian - Arts

If you do land a paying gig, treat your parents to dinner or something every so often (once a semester is enough).

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "once every so often" to emphasize that an event or action happens infrequently and without a set schedule. This can add nuance to your writing by highlighting the irregular nature of the occurrence.

Common error

Avoid using "once every so often" too frequently in your writing, as it can make your text sound repetitive. Opt for synonyms like "occasionally" or "from time to time" to vary your language and maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once every so often" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the frequency of an action or event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It specifies that something happens occasionally, but not on a regular or predictable basis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

38%

News & Media

33%

Science

29%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "once every so often" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that means occasionally or infrequently. According to Ludwig, it's suitable for informal contexts and serves to emphasize the irregular nature of an event or action. While versatile, avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "occasionally" or "from time to time" to add variety to your writing. The phrase is most frequently found in Wiki, News & Media, and Science-related content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally

This is a single-word synonym emphasizing the lack of regularity.

from time to time

This alternative highlights the sporadic nature of the occurrences.

every now and then

This phrase uses a more colloquial tone to indicate infrequency.

on occasion

This is a more formal way of saying occasionally.

at times

This short alternative indicates that something happens sometimes.

now and again

A similar idiom that suggests something happens periodically but not often.

every so often

Shortened version of the original phrase, slightly less emphatic.

intermittently

This word emphasizes the stopping and starting nature of the occurrences.

sporadically

Similar to intermittently, highlighting the lack of pattern.

irregularly

Focuses on the absence of a fixed schedule or frequency.

FAQs

How can I use "once every so often" in a sentence?

You can use "once every so often" to describe events or actions that happen infrequently. For example, "I visit my family "once every so often" because they live far away".

What are some alternatives to "once every so often"?

Alternatives include "occasionally", "from time to time", or "every now and then". These phrases all convey the idea of something happening infrequently.

Is "once every so often" formal or informal?

"Once every so often" leans toward the informal side, but it is acceptable in many contexts. For more formal writing, consider using "on occasion" or "periodically".

What's the difference between "once every so often" and "sometimes"?

"Sometimes" indicates that something happens at certain times, while "once every so often" implies that the event is infrequent and irregular. The latter phrase emphasizes the lack of a consistent pattern.