once per second

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "once per second" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe an event that occurs every second. For example: "My computer refreshes its data once per second."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Thread 1 executes once per second.

Cornell University

GPS typically calculates coordinates once per second.

MIT Technology Review

* The main app decrements this (if positive) once per second.

University of California, Berkeley

The ADC is read once per second through a task called once per second that enables the ADC interrupt and starts a conversion.

Cornell University

updates approximately once per second with the value of (current-seconds).

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The colon blinks at a rate of once per second- on for one second, off for the next.

Cornell University

timer_sleep is useful for threads that operate in real-time, e.g. for blinking the cursor once per second.

Stanford University

This is useful for threads that operate in real-time, for example, for blinking the cursor once per second.

University of California, Berkeley

The system takes a reading from the ADC, input from either the photodiode or the battery voltage, once per second.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

GPS observations with higher than once-per-second sampling are becoming increasingly important for seismology.

Earth, Planets and Space

The once-per-second "ticks" and minute and hour tones are modulated onto the carrier signal at 100 percent, or 0 dBc.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical specifications or measurements, using "once per second" provides a clear and concise indication of frequency. For example, "The data is logged once per second."

Common error

Avoid using "once per second" interchangeably with Hertz (Hz) without understanding the context. While 1 Hz is equivalent to "once per second", Hz is more commonly used in technical or scientific contexts when referring to frequency, while "once per second" is used in describing more common occurences. Be sure to use the more suitable wording depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once per second" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate how frequently an action occurs. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable. Examples in Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, from technical measurements to biological processes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

Academia

30%

News & Media

25%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "once per second" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate that an event occurs at a rate of one time per second. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in various contexts. With a high frequency across academic, scientific, and news media sources, this phrase is a common way to express frequency. While alternatives such as "every second" and "at a frequency of 1 Hz" exist, the choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality. When using the phrase, ensure that the context is appropriate and be mindful of the technical definition of Hertz (Hz) to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every second

This alternative uses a more common phrasing to describe an action happening each second.

each second

This alternative emphasizes the individual nature of each second in the context.

at every second

A less common but grammatically correct way to say "every second".

per second

This alternative is more concise but maintains the same meaning.

at a rate of one per second

This alternative rewords the original to emphasize the concept of rate.

at one-second intervals

This specifies the timing using a more formal description of recurring duration.

every single second

This alternative emphasizes the continuous nature of the action.

at a frequency of 1 Hz

Expresses the rate using the standard unit of frequency, Hertz.

in one-second increments

Focuses on the step-by-step timing of the action.

secondly

This alternative is usually used in order to mention the second reason after the first reason in a list.

FAQs

How can I use "once per second" in a sentence?

You can use "once per second" to describe any event that happens repeatedly at a rate of one time per second. For example: "The sensor takes a reading "once per second"."

What alternatives can I use instead of "once per second"?

Alternatives include "every second", "at one-second intervals", or "at a frequency of 1 Hz", depending on the context and the level of formality required.

Is it more appropriate to say "every second" or "once per second"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "Every second" might sound more natural in casual conversation, while "once per second" may be preferred in more technical or precise descriptions.

What does "once per second" mean in terms of frequency?

"Once per second" is equivalent to a frequency of 1 Hertz (1 Hz). Hertz is the standard unit of frequency, defined as one cycle per second.