sporadic rain

USAGE SUMMARY

"sporadic rain" is correct and usable in written English.
It refers to rain that occurs infrequently or unpredictably. You can use it in a sentence to describe the weather or a specific event. Example: Despite the forecast predicting clear skies, sporadic rain showers surprised the attendees at the outdoor music festival.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Next to the streakers and sporadic rain it's something I miss about dear old England".

The Guardian - Sport

It was 10 50, and the air was wet from sporadic rain.

The New York Times

But Indonesia's national disaster management agency (BNPB) said sporadic rain in recent days may offer respite while the presence of clouds facilitates cloud-seeding.

The Guardian

Sporadic rain and a damp road made for tricky conditions on the 21.7km route around the Northern Irish capital and Martin, who has made the Giro his main focus of the season, went down on a seemingly innocuous straight section of road.

BBC

When I arrived in Yasothon, the heat reached 32.7° Celsius and sporadic rain had just started to fall.

Vice

The first few days of filming was affected due to bad weather conditions, particularly strong winds and sudden sporadic rain showers.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

With seasonal rivers and sporadic rains, India's ecological miracle would become an ecological calamity.Now that the American presidential race is down to two candidates who are both committed to cutting emissions, China and India, the world's most populous nations, are seen by many as the world's biggest climate-change problems.

The Economist

Hasiaa gets cold at night and sporadic rains have made life for children and the weakest particularly precarious as families struggle to find shelter in the area.

Unicef

Except for sporadic rains in March that typically do not provide enough surface water for complete development of mosquito larvae, the Sahelian dry season extends from October to May [ 47].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Wide diurnal temperature fluctuations, sun intensity and sporadic heavy rain showers are the propelling factors for the chemical weathering [8].

Chemistry Central Journal

Sporadic rainfall was expected to drop roughly six one-hundredths of an inch of rain near the San Gabriel Mountains and in the area of Northridge around 2 30 p.m., but the larger storm system has passed, Sirard said.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing weather conditions, use "sporadic rain" to convey that the rainfall is neither continuous nor predictable, but occurs at irregular intervals.

Common error

Avoid using "sporadic rain" to describe heavy or torrential downpours. This phrase implies light and infrequent rainfall, not intense precipitation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sporadic rain" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "sporadic" modifies the noun "rain". As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and describes rainfall that occurs infrequently or unpredictably. It modifies or describes conditions to characterize weather patterns.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sporadic rain" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that refers to rain occurring infrequently or unpredictably, as Ludwig AI confirms. Primarily functioning as a noun phrase, it's employed to describe weather conditions, providing details of occurrence, especially in weather reports and descriptions. The phrase exhibits a neutral register, making it suitable for varied contexts, from news to scientific publications. While not exceedingly common, it is well understood, and can be a useful addition to one's vocabulary to describe rainfall patterns. Consider alternative expressions such as "intermittent showers", "scattered showers", or "occasional drizzle" for similar but subtly different meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

infrequent rain

Directly states the lack of frequent rainfall.

intermittent showers

Focuses on the on-and-off nature of the rainfall.

scattered showers

Highlights the spatial distribution of the rain.

spotty rain

Focuses on the uneven distribution and gaps between rainfall.

occasional drizzle

Specifies a light form of rain occurring irregularly.

isolated rainfall

Emphasizes the limited extent and infrequency of the rain.

unpredictable rainfall

Highlights the uncertain timing of the rain.

irregular precipitation

Uses a more formal term for rainfall that isn't consistent.

chance of showers

Indicates a possibility, but not certainty, of rain.

occasional wet spells

Describes short periods of wet weather, without specifically mentioning rain

FAQs

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

You can use "sporadic rain" to describe weather that is not consistently rainy, such as "Despite the forecast of sunshine, we experienced "sporadic rain" throughout the afternoon."

What's the difference between "sporadic rain" and "scattered showers"?

"Sporadic rain" suggests irregular timing of rainfall, while "scattered showers" implies a rain distribution that is localized and not widespread. Use "scattered showers" if describing that some areas get rain, some don't, or "sporadic rain" if describing short, occasional bursts of rain.

What can I say instead of "sporadic rain" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using "intermittent precipitation" or "irregular rainfall".

Is it correct to say "sporadic rains" instead of "sporadic rain"?

While "sporadic rain" is more common, "sporadic rains" can be used to emphasize multiple instances or types of rain events. However, ""sporadic rain"" is generally preferred for its simplicity and clarity.