sporadic

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'sporadic' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective meaning occurring or appearing at irregular intervals, isolated, or scattered. Example sentence: The student's attendance was sporadic, so he was unable to keep up with the class.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Police were out in force to try to block the demonstrations, and there were sporadic confrontations near Kinshasa University.

The Guardian

Sporadic outrage from people who don't understand how public phone votes work.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But today all is peaceful and a smattering of leaves on the pool's surface hints at sporadic use.

The Guardian - Arts

The peace process that followed the 2013 ceasefire with the Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK) may now also receive a much-needed shot in the arm, after a recent period of stalemate and sporadic violence.

The Guardian

There are a few wooden houses with running water and a sporadic solar-powered electricity supply, where the manager, senior vaqueros and guests stay.

The Guardian - Travel

Cackling "shiver me timbers!" and spewing hits at a submachine-gun's crack, they fire off No You Girls, The Dark Of The Matinee and Do You Want To, their enthusiasm undampened by sporadic showers.

The Guardian - Music

Ever since it has enjoyed sporadic news mentions, usually relating to drug and gun markets, political activism, child pornography, fraud, fetishism, murder, terrorism and Tesco clubcard vouchers.

The Guardian - Music

"The US will likely continue with some executions in the years ahead, but the rationale for such sporadic use is far from clear".

The Guardian

Since then the troubles in the banlieues have been sporadic but have never gone away.

The Guardian

New culture secretary John Whittingdale, who has already had a cordial meeting with Channel 4's chiefs, has a questioning stance towards public service broadcasting and there have been sporadic flirtations with privatising it.

The Guardian

Free from the hamster-wheel-like routine of exhausted sleep, the sporadic demands of picket-line solidarity suddenly presented infinite opportunities.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events or phenomena that occur unpredictably, use "sporadic" to convey the lack of a consistent pattern or schedule. For example, "The company experienced sporadic outages throughout the day".

Common error

Avoid using "sporadic" when you mean something is done in a planned or organized manner. "Sporadic" implies irregularity, while "systematic" implies a deliberate pattern.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "sporadic" primarily functions to modify nouns, indicating that the noun's occurrence or manifestation is irregular or inconsistent. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sporadic" is an adjective used to describe something that occurs at irregular intervals or is scattered in occurrence. Ludwig AI confirms that its use is grammatically correct and frequently encountered in various contexts, particularly in news, formal business, and science. When using "sporadic", ensure that it accurately reflects the intended meaning of irregularity rather than systematic or frequent occurrence. Alternative words include "intermittent", "occasional", and "irregular". Remember to avoid confusing "sporadic" with terms implying planned or organized actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intermittent

Focuses on the stopping and starting nature of the occurrences.

occasional

Emphasizes the infrequency of the occurrences.

infrequent

Directly states that the occurrences are not frequent.

irregular

Highlights the lack of a consistent pattern in the occurrences.

uncommon

Suggests that the occurrences are not typical or usual.

isolated

Emphasizes the separation and lack of connection between the occurrences.

scattered

Indicates that the occurrences are dispersed and not concentrated.

periodic

Suggests occurrences happening at generally regular but possibly lengthy intervals.

fitful

Implies an erratic and restless quality to the occurrences.

erratic

Emphasizes the unpredictable and inconsistent nature of the occurrences.

FAQs

How can I use "sporadic" in a sentence?

Use "sporadic" to describe events or actions that occur irregularly or at inconsistent intervals. For example, "There were "sporadic outbreaks" of violence in the city".

What's a good substitute for "sporadic"?

Alternatives include "intermittent", "occasional", or "irregular", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "sporadic events are happening frequently"?

No, that would be a contradiction. "Sporadic" implies that events are not happening frequently. A better phrasing might be "Despite the events being "sporadic", they are causing concern".

What's the difference between "sporadic" and "random"?

"Sporadic" emphasizes the irregular timing or occurrence, while "random" suggests a lack of any predictable pattern or purpose. You might say "Sporadic checks" implies irregular timing, and "Random checks" implies unpredictable selection.