sometimes a year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sometimes a year" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs occasionally within a yearly timeframe. Example: "We only meet for our annual review, which sometimes a year can feel too infrequent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Sometimes a year.

The New Yorker

Treating XDR-TB takes longer, sometimes a year or more, and requires more drugs.

The New York Times - Health

"Sometimes a year will pass before someone decides to tell us what they know.

The New York Times

"The Sopranos" frequently took long breaks, sometimes a year or more, between seasons.

The New York Times - Arts

"It takes a year and sometimes a year and a half to get back," Dr. Cain said.

The New York Times - Sports

Sometimes a year — unless it's an extremely concentrated consolidation of decades' worth of soul-shattering events — may seem insignificant.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

"Sometimes a bad year is just a bad year," and not the end of a career, Phillips said.

The New York Times - Sports

Momentous events can sometimes dominate a year's selection.

The Guardian

We continued to visit Calcutta once, sometimes twice, a year.

The Guardian

And they recover more quickly than initially predicted, sometimes within a year or two.

The New York Times

Students sometimes wait a year or more to work with him.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sometimes a year", ensure the context clearly indicates that the event or action occurs infrequently within a yearly cycle. This phrase is best used when precision isn't critical, and the general sense of occasional occurrence is sufficient.

Common error

Avoid using "sometimes a year" if the event happens more frequently than occasionally. If something occurs multiple times a year, phrases like "several times a year" or "quarterly" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sometimes a year" functions as an adverbial phrase of frequency, modifying a verb or clause to indicate how often an event or action occurs within a year. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sometimes a year" serves as an adverbial phrase to denote infrequent or occasional events within a year. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. The phrase is versatile and widely used, primarily in News & Media contexts, as well as in scientific and general discussions. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse writing scenarios. Though widely applicable, it's important to consider whether "sometimes a year" accurately represents the frequency; if the event occurs more often, phrases like "several times a year" might be more fitting. The phrase has a common frequency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally a year

Replaces "sometimes" with "occasionally", maintaining the meaning of infrequent occurrence.

at times a year

Substitutes "sometimes" with "at times", indicating that the event happens sporadically.

in some years

Shifts the focus to specific years where the event occurs, rather than a general frequency.

during certain years

Highlights particular years when something happens, implying it doesn't happen every year.

once in a year

Specifies the event happens only a single time within the year.

at least once a year

Indicates a minimum frequency, suggesting the event could happen more often.

on occasion each year

Emphasizes the sporadic nature of the event throughout the year.

infrequently each year

Stresses the rarity of the event on a yearly basis.

in certain annual instances

Formal rephrasing, emphasizing specific annual occurrences.

sporadically within a year

Highlights the irregular timing of the event within the annual timeframe.

FAQs

How can I use "sometimes a year" in a sentence?

Use "sometimes a year" to indicate that something happens infrequently within a yearly period. For example, "The software receives major updates "sometimes a year", but minor patches are more frequent".

What's a good alternative to "sometimes a year"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "occasionally a year", "at times a year", or "once in a year" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "sometimes in a year" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "sometimes in a year" is less common and idiomatic than ""sometimes a year"". The latter is the preferred phrasing for indicating occasional yearly occurrences.

How does "sometimes a year" compare to "frequently a year"?

"Sometimes a year" suggests a low frequency of occurrence, while "frequently a year" implies that something happens often during the year. They represent opposite ends of the frequency spectrum.