spotty attendance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spotty attendance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe inconsistent or irregular attendance at events, meetings, or classes. Example: "The student's spotty attendance has raised concerns about their commitment to the course."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Because of this spotty attendance record, the company said, he was let go the next day.

The New York Times

Sometimes, Venus Williams just calls her spotty attendance a battle with laziness.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr Menem's brother, Eduardo, a former senator, attributes the 80-year-old's spotty attendance to poor health.

The Economist

Ms. Gonzalez has had a spotty attendance record and very few legislative successes in her 11 years on the job.

The New York Times

"Football season is over, folks," former U.T. and U.H. coach Tom Penders wrote in a Twitter message when he saw spotty attendance at early January Big 12 games.

The New York Times - Sports

Chosen to be valedictorian of his high school class, he nearly lost that honor when a health teacher objected to his spotty attendance record.

Princeton University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Meltdown" and pointing to his spotty Senate attendance record.

The Washington Post

Rubio spent the rest of the campaign trying to defend his spotty Senate attendance record.

The Washington Post

I look at it when I find myself fretting about, say, book review deadlines or my spotty gym attendance.

The New York Times - Books

Because of lack of funding, spotty student attendance and lack of classrooms and furnishings, implementing curriculums dealing with the global biodiversity crisis into the LEDC classroom is not as easy as in MEDCs.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mr. Trump skipped the event last year — Vice President Mike Pence spoke in his stead — but there is precedent for spotty presidential attendance: Barack Obama did not speak there until his third year in office.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's attendance, consider the specific context. Use "spotty attendance" when you want to highlight that the attendance is not only irregular but also noticeably uneven or scattered.

Common error

While "spotty attendance" is widely understood, consider using more formal alternatives like "irregular attendance" or "inconsistent attendance" in professional or academic settings to maintain a more serious tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spotty attendance" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "spotty" modifies the noun "attendance". It describes the quality of attendance being irregular or inconsistent. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

26%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spotty attendance" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that describes an inconsistent or irregular attendance record. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. While generally neutral, it is important to consider the formality of the situation. In professional or academic settings, alternatives such as "irregular attendance" or "inconsistent attendance" might be more appropriate. The phrase finds frequent use in news and media and academic writing, serving to describe and often critique someone's presence in a given setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

patchy attendance

Similar to "spotty", suggesting uneven or inconsistent presence.

irregular attendance

Highlights the lack of a consistent pattern in attendance.

inconsistent attendance

Focuses on the variability and lack of uniformity in attendance.

sporadic attendance

Emphasizes that attendance occurs at irregular intervals.

erratic attendance

Stresses the unpredictable nature of attendance.

intermittent attendance

Highlights the stopping and starting nature of attendance.

occasional attendance

Indicates that attendance happens only sometimes.

variable attendance

Suggests that the level of attendance changes frequently.

fluctuating attendance

Implies that attendance rises and falls in an unsteady pattern.

unreliable attendance

Focuses on the lack of dependability in someone's attendance.

FAQs

What does "spotty attendance" mean?

"Spotty attendance" refers to an attendance record that is irregular or inconsistent. It suggests that someone is not attending regularly or reliably.

What can I say instead of "spotty attendance"?

You can use alternatives like "irregular attendance", "inconsistent attendance", or "sporadic attendance", depending on the context.

Is "spotty attendance" a formal or informal phrase?

"Spotty attendance" is generally considered a neutral phrase, suitable for most contexts. However, in highly formal or professional settings, alternatives like "irregular attendance" might be preferred.

How does "spotty attendance" differ from "poor attendance"?

"Spotty attendance" emphasizes the inconsistency or irregularity of attendance, while "poor attendance" suggests a generally low level of attendance. Someone with "spotty attendance" might attend sometimes, but not regularly, whereas someone with "poor attendance" rarely attends at all.