several occasions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several occasions" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to multiple events that have occurred, or to emphasize the frequency of an occurrence. For example: I have gone to the beach on several occasions this summer.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He smiled on several occasions.

The New York Times

He tried on several occasions.

The New York Times - Style

(This was evident on several occasions).

The New York Times

Enjoyed her company on several occasions.

Independent

On several occasions Daumier painted historical subjects.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I heard this myself on several occasions.

The New York Times

I am called "dear" on several occasions.

Independent

On several occasions, said objects connected".

The New York Times

"Neil battled through adversity on several occasions.

The Guardian - Sport

I got ill on several occasions.

The Guardian

On several occasions, officers tackled protesters.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "several occasions" to indicate a moderate number of instances, more than a few but not excessively many. This provides a balanced and informative description of frequency.

Common error

While "several occasions" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise alternatives like "in numerous instances" or "on multiple occasions" to enhance the sophistication of your language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several occasions" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the frequency or timing of an event. Ludwig's examples show it's often used to specify that something happened more than once but not excessively.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

13%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "several occasions" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that an event has occurred more than once, but not excessively. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase functions as an adverbial modifier, providing information about frequency. It maintains a neutral register, suitable for a wide range of contexts, including news, general writing, and conversations. While versatile, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives in highly formal writing to enhance sophistication. Ludwig’s analysis underscores its reliability and broad applicability in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

multiple instances

Emphasizes the discrete occurrences rather than the timing or setting.

numerous times

Focuses on the frequency of the action or event.

on many instances

A more formal way of expressing the same idea, suitable for written contexts.

repeatedly

Highlights the recurrence of an action without specifying the number of times.

frequently

Indicates that something happens often, but doesn't specify individual events.

a number of times

A less formal, more conversational alternative to "several occasions".

on more than one occasion

Highlights that it happened more than once, but not necessarily many times.

at various times

Emphasizes the diversity of moments when the event occurred.

in several instances

More formal and emphasizes specific events or cases.

on a few occasions

Indicates a smaller number of occurrences compared to "several".

FAQs

How can I use "several occasions" in a sentence?

You can use "several occasions" to indicate that something has happened more than once, but not an excessive amount of times. For example, "I have met him on "several occasions"".

What's the difference between "several occasions" and "many times"?

"Several occasions" suggests a limited number of times, whereas "many times" implies a greater frequency. Use ""several occasions"" when you want to be specific about the events occurring more than once but not exhaustively.

What are some alternatives to "several occasions"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "multiple instances", "numerous times", or "on many instances".

Is it appropriate to use "several occasions" in formal writing?

Yes, but consider more formal alternatives like "on numerous occasions" or "in multiple instances" for a more sophisticated tone.