sometimes previously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sometimes previously" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used when referring to events or situations that have occurred at various times in the past. Example: "The project faced challenges sometimes previously, but we managed to overcome them."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Ms. Parker could face up to life in prison under federal consumer product tampering laws if serious injury resulted from her actions, which, according to court documents and her own statements to the police, included removing syringes full of the painkiller fentanyl from surgical trays and replacing them with syringes — sometimes previously used by her, sometimes not — full of saline solution.

The New York Times

But she advised fans not to despair -- sometimes previously reserved rooms will be released.

Huffington Post

That water is disposed of in injection wells that sometimes reach more than a mile underground, where the fluid lubricates long-dormant and sometimes previously unknown faults.

Vice

Of particular note is the sequence Genbank: AY531552, which has sometimes previously been described as mouse TLR11 [ 29, 30] although it shares its sequence with Genbank: AK136724, AK143385 and AY510705, all of which are described as TLR12.

BMC Genomics

Heterosis has sometimes previously been calculated using the fitness of between-population crosses in the denominator (e.g. van Treuren et al. 1993; Ouborg and Van Treuren 1994; Oakley and Winn 2012).

AoB PLANTS

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The options for PRs scrabbling to show off their acts to the mainstream public quietly damn the general state of British television, away from Ross's sometimes shoddy, previously untamed world.

Independent

Sometimes having previously won an award can prove to be a disadvantage, particularly when there's a feeling that new blood may provide an injection of renewed vitality.

BBC

Third, people represented causal relations in the system (e.g., how the change in the predator population causes a change in the prey population) as movements, sometimes between previously established locations.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Maybe conservatives who see 42 will realize that sometimes a previously unimaginable shift is for the better, and they won't want to be left behind like the racists in 42.

Huffington Post

Inspection of spike histograms (Fig. 7Aiv) clearly shows that relative to the spike train elicited by current injection in darkness, optically driving Halo and ChR2 could sometimes abolish previously reliable spikes, create new spikes, or advance or delay the timing of specific spikes.

Plosone

The counterpoising effect of acetic acid on the limiting current and the rate of electrochemical reactions was shown to be able to justify the inconsistent and sometimes contradictory behavior previously reported in the literature.

Electrochimica Acta

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using alternatives like "occasionally in the past" or "at times previously" to enhance clarity and flow in your writing. These alternatives might be more familiar to your audience and avoid potential awkwardness.

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on the phrase "sometimes previously" as it can become repetitive and sound unnatural. Vary your language by using a range of alternative expressions to maintain reader engagement and improve the overall quality of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sometimes previously" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the frequency and temporality of an action or state. It specifies that something occurred intermittently at an earlier point in time. Ludwig examples show the phrase modifying verbs, adding a temporal dimension to the action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sometimes previously" is grammatically acceptable but considered a less common and potentially awkward phrasing. Ludwig's analysis reveals it functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating intermittent past occurrences. While understandable, it might be replaced with alternatives like "occasionally in the past" for improved clarity. The Ludwig examples show its usage is concentrated in Science and News & Media domains. Therefore, writers should be mindful of their audience and consider more common alternatives to maintain a natural and engaging style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally in the past

Emphasizes the infrequency and past occurrence but doesn't necessarily imply recentness or relevance.

at times in the past

Highlights the intermittent nature of the events in the past.

formerly on occasion

Reorders the words and emphasizes the 'former' aspect, implying a change from the past.

sporadically before

Focuses on the irregular nature of the occurrences and their precedence.

intermittently in earlier times

More formal and descriptive, specifying the period in which the events occurred.

previously at intervals

Highlights the fact that there were gaps and that it has happened before.

on certain past occasions

Formal, indicating specific instances in the past rather than a general trend.

in some prior instances

Highlights particular cases and earlier occurrences.

before, but not always

More conversational and clarifies that the event didn't happen every time.

at some prior junctures

Replaces time aspect with juncture, and is slightly more formal.

FAQs

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

You can use "sometimes previously" to indicate that something occurred at irregular intervals in the past. For example: "The project faced challenges "sometimes previously", but we managed to overcome them."

What are some alternatives to "sometimes previously"?

Some alternatives include "occasionally in the past", "at times in the past", or "formerly on occasion". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "sometimes previously" grammatically correct?

Yes, "sometimes previously" is grammatically acceptable, although it's not the most common or elegant phrasing. It's often better to use alternatives for improved clarity and flow.

When is it appropriate to use "sometimes previously"?

It's appropriate to use "sometimes previously" when you want to emphasize that something happened at irregular intervals in the past, but be mindful that there might be more common alternatives.