sometimes turned up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sometimes turned up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or occurrence that happens occasionally or intermittently. Example: "During the summer months, the heat sometimes turned up unexpectedly, making the days feel much hotter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The green vipers decided to nest elsewhere, though they sometimes turned up in the bathtub.

The New York Times

She sometimes turned up on my doorstep in flip-flops and shorts, saying she'd come from a barbecue.

Independent

In their final year at Longhill, the twins rarely attended classes, although they sometimes turned up for free school meals.

The Guardian

During his concert tours he sometimes turned up in Hungarian national costume, including a ceremonial saber of honor, awarded to him by his compatriots in 1840.

The New York Times - Arts

Apart from a few fanatics who sometimes turned up at midnight, the landmen would begin arriving at the courthouse around 6 a.m.

The New York Times - Magazine

Jones's father has voiced similar frustrations — as have the families of other soldiers who went missing in the United States and sometimes turned up dead.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Corpses of the disappeared sometimes turn up on the streets.

The Economist

That playfulness sometimes turns up in unexpected quarters.

The New York Times - Style

And just browsing through sometimes turns up stuff I'd rather forget.

The Guardian - Tech

Petits pois sometimes turn up at markets that carry specialty produce.

The New York Times

Even countries with stringent regulatory systems sometimes turn up bad pharmaceuticals.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sometimes turned up", consider the context to ensure the adverb "sometimes" accurately reflects the frequency of the event. Avoid using it when a more specific frequency adverb (e.g., "rarely", "frequently") would be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "sometimes turned up" when you have precise data on the frequency of an occurrence. If you know something "turned up 25% of the time", stating that directly is more informative than saying it "sometimes turned up".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sometimes turned up" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the frequency with which an action or event occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for describing intermittent or occasional appearances.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sometimes turned up" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that indicates intermittent occurrences. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is widely accepted. While it's suitable for various contexts, it's essential to consider the specific frequency and register to ensure the most accurate and appropriate language is used. Authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ this phrase, confirming its widespread acceptance and utility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally appeared

Replaces "turned up" with a more formal synonym "appeared" and "sometimes" with "occasionally", slightly altering the tone.

showed up sporadically

Substitutes "sometimes" with "sporadically", emphasizing the irregular nature of the appearances.

periodically surfaced

Replaces "turned up" with "surfaced", suggesting something that was hidden or not readily available becoming visible from time to time.

cropped up now and then

Uses the idiomatic expression "cropped up" to imply unexpected or sudden appearances.

emerged intermittently

Employs "emerged" and "intermittently" for a more sophisticated and less common phrasing.

sporadically materialized

Uses "materialized" to give a sense of something becoming real or present, and "sporadically" for its infrequent occurrence.

surfaced from time to time

Indicates that appearances are not constant, but happen with some regularity.

irregularly appeared

Highlights the lack of a fixed pattern in the appearances.

surfaced at intervals

Focuses on the spaced-out nature of the appearances, implying a certain distance between each occurrence.

unpredictably arose

Highlights the unexpected nature of the appearances or occurrences.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "sometimes turned up" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "occasionally appeared", "periodically surfaced", or "intermittently emerged" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What does "sometimes turned up" imply about the frequency of an event?

"Sometimes turned up" suggests that an event occurs with some regularity, but not consistently or predictably. It indicates a frequency that is more than "rarely" but less than "often".

Is "sometimes turned up" appropriate for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "sometimes turned up" might be considered informal for some academic contexts. More precise language, such as "was occasionally observed" or "periodically occurred", could be more suitable depending on the field and the specific requirements of the writing.

What's a more descriptive alternative to "sometimes turned up" when describing research findings?

Instead of "sometimes turned up", you could use phrases like "was intermittently detected", "sporadically presented itself", or "manifested itself at intervals" to provide a clearer picture of the frequency and nature of the findings.