over and over again

USAGE SUMMARY

"over and over again" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something happens multiple times, often in a repetitive or cyclical manner. For example: "I've told you over and over again to finish your homework before you can play video games."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fox News," over and over again?

The New Yorker

He did that over and over again.

The New Yorker

Repeat it over and over again.

The New Yorker

They practice them over and over again.

The New York Times

"It was debated over and over again.

The New York Times

I saw it over and over again.

The New York Times

I did it over and over again.

The New Yorker

I played it over and over again.

The New Yorker

She said it "over and over again".

The New Yorker

"We did it over and over again".

The New York Times

I told you over and over again.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "over and over again" to emphasize the repetitive nature of an action or event, especially when you want to highlight its frequency and persistence.

Common error

Avoid using "over and over again" in contexts where the repetition is already implied. Redundancy can weaken your writing, so choose concise alternatives when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over and over again" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to emphasize the repetitive nature of the action. Ludwig examples show it used to highlight actions that occur frequently, stressing their persistence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Academia

34%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "over and over again" is a grammatically correct and very common adverbial phrase used to emphasize the repetitive nature of an action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Academia. While highly versatile, it's important to avoid redundancy and consider concise alternatives when the repetition is already implied. Related phrases like "repeatedly" or "time and time again" can offer similar emphasis with slightly different nuances. By understanding its function, purpose, and potential pitfalls, you can effectively incorporate "over and over again" into your writing to enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

again and again

A direct synonym, highlighting the recurrent nature of an action.

time and time again

Emphasizes the frequency of repetition, similar to "over and over again".

repeatedly

This is a single-word adverb that means doing something multiple times.

continually

Emphasizes the ongoing and uninterrupted nature of an action.

constantly

Similar to 'continually', implying a persistent occurrence.

on numerous occasions

Focuses on the multiple instances of an event or action.

recurrently

Highlights the cyclical nature of something happening again.

frequently

Describes how often something occurs.

many times

A simple and direct way to indicate multiple occurrences.

ad nauseam

Implies that something has been repeated so often that it has become tiresome.

FAQs

How can I use "over and over again" in a sentence?

You can use "over and over again" to emphasize the repetitive nature of an action. For example: "I told him "over and over again" to lock the door."

What are some alternatives to "over and over again"?

Alternatives include "repeatedly", "time and time again", or "again and again", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "over and over again"?

While it can be redundant in some contexts, "over and over again" is generally accepted and used for emphasis. However, consider using more concise alternatives like "repeatedly" or "frequently" if the repetition is already implied.

What is the difference between "again and again" and "over and over again"?

The phrases "again and again" and ""over and over again"" are largely synonymous and interchangeable. The latter may slightly emphasize the continuous or cyclical nature of the repetition.