sporadic instance

USAGE SUMMARY

"sporadic instance" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe an event or occurrence that happens irregularly or infrequently. For example, "There was a sporadic instance of rain throughout the week." Alternative expressions include "occasional occurrence" and "intermittent event."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The first was the sporadic instance of defects in proper somite boundary formation, such that a segment boundary in a portion of one somite would be absent as represented by slow muscle fibers extending from the anterior boundary of one somite to the posterior boundary of the neighboring somite.

BMC Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Over the weekend, only scattered logistical problems and sporadic instances of intimidation were reported to election observers, who had been bracing for much worse.

The New York Times

Independent election monitors reported sporadic instances of delayed openings of polling stations, broken voting machines, ballot shortages, voter confusion and occasional abuse in a number of battleground states including Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The Guardian

Ivy Wong Abdullah, forest conservation senior manager at WWF Malaysia, said that no statistics were available on the extent of illegal logging in Malaysia but that "sporadic instances" were still being detected.

The New York Times

The virus crops up from time to time in places like Vietnam, as well as sporadic instances in the US.

Vice

Elsewhere, sporadic instances of public disorder persisted late into the 20th century, accompanied by large numbers of firework-related accidents, but a national Firework Code and improved public safety has in most cases brought an end to such things.

Wikipedia

Even though the SHAC defendants did nothing but call for and participate in legal protests against the company and anyone doing business with them, sporadic instances of vandalism by unknown persons against some of the protest targets caused the six activists spearheading the campaign against HLS to be charged with inciting "terrorism".

Huffington Post

There are sporadic instances of unidentified genes that have been highly matched by camel sequences, which warrant further biological investigation.

Plosone

Two species--dogs and cattle--are intoxicated more frequently than other animals; yet sporadic instances of poisoning have been observed in cats, horses, and pigs.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Four reports of sporadic instances of decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin: serogroup B from France in 1999 and Spain in 2002, serogroup C from Australia in 1998, and serogroup Y from Argentina in 2002 (4 – 6 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Although most schwannomatosis cases are sporadic, instances of autosomal dominant transmission with incomplete penetrance have also been reported [ 11], though linkage analysis has now excluded the NF2 locus, suggesting schwannomatosis is a distinct entity [ 12- 15].

BMC Ophthalmology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sporadic instance", ensure the context clearly indicates that the event is not only infrequent but also somewhat unexpected or irregular. This phrase is particularly effective in scientific or analytical writing where precision is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "sporadic instance" when describing events that, while not constant, follow a predictable pattern. "Sporadic" implies unpredictability; for regularly occurring but infrequent events, consider "periodic" or "intermittent" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sporadic instance" functions as a noun phrase, where "sporadic" modifies "instance". It describes an event or occurrence that happens irregularly or infrequently. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sporadic instance" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe an event that occurs infrequently and irregularly. As Ludwig AI confirms, it finds application in diverse contexts, particularly within scientific and news-related domains. While not overly frequent, its precise and descriptive nature makes it valuable in analytical writing. Alternatives such as "occasional occurrence" or "infrequent event" can be considered depending on the desired nuance. Use this phrase judiciously, ensuring that the context accurately reflects the unpredictable and infrequent nature of the described event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sporadic event

Direct synonym, but using 'event' instead of 'instance'.

occasional occurrence

Emphasizes the infrequency of the event.

occasional event

Similar to occasional occurrence with a slight emphasis on the event itself.

isolated case

Highlights the singularity and lack of connection to other events.

infrequent event

Focuses on the rare nature of the occurrence.

rare instance

Similar to infrequent event, stressing uncommonness.

scattered incident

Suggests a distribution across time or space.

isolated example

Points to a single, non-representative illustration.

uncommon manifestation

Indicates a rare display or appearance of something.

intermittent episode

Highlights the stop-and-start nature of the event.

FAQs

How can I use "sporadic instance" in a sentence?

"Sporadic instance" is used to describe something that happens infrequently and irregularly. For example, "There was a "sporadic instance" of rain throughout the week".

What's a good alternative to "sporadic instance"?

Alternatives include "occasional occurrence", "isolated case", or "infrequent event", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "sporadic instance" formal or informal?

"Sporadic instance" is generally considered neutral to formal. It's suitable for academic, scientific, or professional writing, as well as news reporting.

What does "sporadic instance" emphasize compared to "occasional occurrence"?

"Sporadic instance" emphasizes the irregularity and unpredictability of the occurrence, while "occasional occurrence" simply highlights its infrequency. The former suggests a more random pattern.