patchy manner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "patchy manner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is inconsistent or uneven in quality or performance. Example: "The project's progress was made in a patchy manner, leading to delays and confusion among the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"There's a danger we are sliding back to the ways of the Moi era," says another disconsolate pro-democracy activist.Nonetheless, in its usual inequitable and patchy manner, Kenya is powering ahead.

The Economist

Fgf8 expression was reduced in a patchy manner in β- catenin mutants, suggesting a defect in AER formation.

Cell Reports

Although reporters including upd3.1LacZ, which is activated by perturbations in the gut epithelium, remain silent, a 1-kb element within the first intron (upd3.3LacZ) was expressed in a patchy manner throughout dlg discs.

eLife

Immunohistochemical analysis of Col18a1−/− mice revealed that only small amounts of fibrin are deposited within the centrilobular zone, in a patchy manner, after 48 hours exposure to CCl4, whereas distribution is more uniform within the centrilobular zone of wild-type mice (Fig. 6A E).

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Here the most marked feature was that while inner retinal vessels accumulate Aβ in a patchy progressive manner along their length, choroidal vessels were different in that some accumulate Aβ deposits while others seem to remain Aβ free.

Plosone

This is the pathological hallmark of microangiopathy in diabetes and occurred in an uneven, patchy, segmental manner.

Diabetes Care

This is the pathological hallmark of diabetic microangiopathy and occurred in an uneven, patchy, segmental manner [ 157].

Clinical Science

This observation not only has diagnostic relevance, but also suggests the repeat expansion on C9ORF72 affects cerebral networks in a more bilateral, patchy or diffuse manner as opposed to a focal/asymmetric manner which is what the primary progressive aphasia syndromes reflect.

Brain

Strikingly, patchy hypomethylation often affects CpG sites in a non-random manner across patients and tissues.

Clinical Epigenetics

Overall, our findings support the conclusion that when confronted with heterogeneous, patchy environments of contrasting plant species, cows grazed in a manner consistent with the "intake rate-maximization" hypothesis in two ways.

BMC Ecology

Sema3F protein expression is patchy within the lesion at day 3 (PIdecliningining in a similar, but slower manner from the inner core of the lesion outwards, leaving a positive rim.

Acta Neuropathologica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing processes or phenomena, use "patchy manner" to indicate that the occurrence is not uniform or consistent across the entire scope. This adds a nuance of irregularity often found in real-world situations.

Common error

While "patchy manner" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing may weaken the prose. Consider stronger, more precise synonyms like "inconsistently" or "sporadically" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "patchy manner" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe how an action is performed or in what way a condition exists. Ludwig shows it often describes something happening irregularly or inconsistently.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "patchy manner" is an adverbial phrase used to describe something occurring irregularly or inconsistently. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability in English. Though grammatically sound and found in reputable sources like The Economist, its frequency is relatively low. It's most common in scientific and news contexts. When using "patchy manner", ensure it accurately reflects the uneven or sporadic nature of what you're describing, and consider more precise alternatives like "inconsistently" or "sporadically" for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in an inconsistent manner

This alternative specifically highlights the lack of consistency in the approach or execution.

in a spotty manner

This alternative is very close in meaning, using a different but synonymous adjective.

unevenly

This is a shorter, more direct way to express the lack of uniformity.

in an uneven way

This alternative is more general and emphasizes the lack of uniformity in the process or outcome.

irregularly

This alternative is a single-word adverb conveying the same lack of regularity.

in a sporadic fashion

This alternative emphasizes the irregular and intermittent nature of the action or occurrence.

in a fragmented way

This alternative highlights the disjointed or incomplete nature of the process or outcome.

intermittently

This alternative focuses on the starts-and-stops nature of the occurrence.

in a haphazard way

This alternative suggests a lack of planning or organization, implying randomness in the process.

in a checkered fashion

This alternative implies a mix of good and bad, or successes and failures.

FAQs

How can I use "patchy manner" in a sentence?

You can use "patchy manner" to describe something that happens irregularly or inconsistently. For example, "The internet service was provided in a "patchy manner", with frequent disconnections".

What are some alternatives to "patchy manner"?

Alternatives include "in an uneven way", "in a sporadic fashion", or "in an inconsistent manner" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "patchy manner" formal or informal?

"Patchy manner" is generally considered neutral in formality. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more precise language might be preferred in highly formal writing.

What does "patchy manner" imply?

"Patchy manner" implies that something is not uniform or consistent. It suggests that the occurrence is localized or intermittent rather than widespread or continuous.