prone to bouts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prone to bouts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is likely to experience episodes or occurrences of a particular condition or behavior. Example: "She is prone to bouts of anxiety, especially during stressful situations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

America is prone to bouts of declinism.

The Economist

He has long been prone to bouts of public introspection.

The New York Times

He's also prone to bouts of existentialism and self-reflection.

The Guardian - Film

For most of her adult life Paula had been prone to bouts of depression.

The Guardian - Books

The shares are tightly held, and often prone to bouts of volatility.

The Guardian - Business

Teenager Jade is a stroppy recidivist, prone to bouts of rage and self-harm.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

She was prone to bouts of depression and spent long periods in mental institutions.

The Guardian

Elephants can be docile but are also prone to bouts of rage if agitated.

The Guardian

Dick Cheney isn't the only one prone to bouts of nostalgia, nowadays.

The Guardian

Unlike the Conservative Party, Labour is not prone to bouts of chest-beating over Europe.

The Economist

Hayward was single-minded and driven, but he was also prone to bouts of depression.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prone to bouts", ensure that the noun following 'bouts' clearly specifies what condition or behavior is being experienced. For instance, "prone to bouts of anxiety" is more precise than "prone to bouts" alone.

Common error

Avoid using "prone to bouts" without specifying the nature of the bouts. Saying someone is "prone to bouts" without further explanation leaves the reader guessing and reduces the sentence's impact. Always clarify what kind of episodes or occurrences are involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prone to bouts" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition, typically modifying a noun or pronoun. It indicates a tendency or susceptibility to experiencing recurring episodes of a particular condition or behavior, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

92%

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prone to bouts" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that signifies a tendency or susceptibility to experiencing recurring episodes of a specific condition or behavior. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral to formal tone and serves to describe characteristics involving repeated occurrences. When using this phrase, it is best practice to clearly specify the nature of the bouts to enhance clarity. Alternatives such as "susceptible to episodes" or "liable to attacks" can be used to vary the language while maintaining the core meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

susceptible to episodes

Changes the wording to highlight vulnerability to specific occurrences rather than a general tendency.

liable to attacks

Focuses on the potential for experiencing attacks, implying a more forceful or aggressive onset.

inclined to experience periods of

Expands the phrase to explicitly mention the experience of periods, adding clarity.

subject to phases of

Replaces "bouts" with "phases", suggesting a more gradual or cyclical nature.

tends to have episodes of

Uses a more common verb "tends" to indicate a habitual inclination.

has a propensity for periods of

Employs "propensity" to denote a natural inclination, making it more formal.

demonstrates a susceptibility to periods of

Adds "demonstrates" to indicate observable evidence of vulnerability.

experiences periodic episodes of

Directly states the experience of periodic episodes, simplifying the wording.

exhibits a tendency toward episodes of

Uses "exhibits" to show displayed behavior, providing a slightly different emphasis.

has a weakness for spells of

Employs "weakness" to imply less resistance and replaces "bouts" with "spells".

FAQs

How can I use "prone to bouts" in a sentence?

Use "prone to bouts" to describe someone or something that experiences recurring episodes of a specific condition or behavior. For example, "He is "prone to bouts of depression"" or "The stock market is "prone to bouts of volatility"".

What are some alternatives to "prone to bouts"?

Alternatives include "susceptible to episodes", "liable to attacks", or "inclined to experience periods of", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "prone to bouts of" followed by a singular noun?

While grammatically acceptable, it's more common and stylistically better to follow "prone to bouts of" with a plural noun or a non-count noun that indicates recurring instances or episodes. For example, "prone to bouts of anger" is better than "prone to bouts of an anger".

What is the difference between "prone to bouts" and "occasionally experiences"?

"Prone to bouts" suggests a higher likelihood and regularity of occurrence compared to "occasionally experiences". "Prone to bouts" indicates a tendency, while "occasionally experiences" simply states that something happens from time to time.