spurts

USAGE SUMMARY

"spurts" is a valid and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to a sudden or brief outburst of activity, force, or emotion. For example, "The fire alarm sounded in short, loud spurts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Places that endured the most spectacular property crashes are now seeing some of the biggest spurts: prices were up by 23% in Phoenix, 15% in Las Vegas, 11% in Miami and 10% in San Diego.Cheniere Energy, which is based in Houston, struck a big deal to ship liquefied natural gas to Centrica, Britain's largest gas supplier.

The Economist

Humanity all over the world, for the vast majority of its history, has experienced periods of growth followed by reversals which have limited increases in per capita income.Although Africa went through periods of economic growth in the 1950s, 1960s, late-1980s and the 2000s, these growth spurts were off-set by "growth reversals" in the 1970s, early-1980s and the 1990s, when GDP fell.

The Economist

The engineered form lost its internal oscillator and therefore stopped producing spores in spurts.

The Economist

Even in the UAW's heartland, Michigan, the rate of union membership in all types of workplace fell from 16.6% to 16.3% last year, despite overall job growth.Richard Freeman, a labour economist at Harvard, has found that union membership tends to grow in short, sharp spurts; otherwise it tends to wither.

The Economist

Since then, both economies have seen spurts of growth.

The Economist

Unlike previous spurts in America's productivity growth, the recent one has been unusually dependent on capital deepening rather than on TFP.

The Economist

First, manufacturing accounts for a big part of several local economies, and industries such as cars and electronics are highly cyclical: output drops sharply in a downturn and then spurts in the upturn.

The Economist

Commodity markets are notoriously fickle and revenues can quickly be squandered.The true test of progress is whether new riches trickle down from the elite to create a group of consumers large enough to sustain broad economic spurts in the service and manufacturing sectors.

The Economist

But real change needs something deeper than quick spurts of growth.More than anything, Africa's people need to regain their self-confidence.

The Economist

CHINA, an ancient civilisation, is still in its economic adolescence, a phase marked by growth spurts and mood swings.

The Economist

Despite a couple of bouts of reform and spurts of growth, India's economy has never achieved the momentum that has dragged much of East Asia out of poverty.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing economic or statistical data, use "spurts" to denote periods of rapid but potentially unstable growth. For example, "The economy experienced several "spurts" of growth during the recovery period".

Common error

Avoid using "spurts" when describing consistent, long-term growth. "Spurts" implies a temporary and often unpredictable burst, not a steady increase. Use terms like "growth" or "expansion" for sustained progress.

Linguistic Context

The word "spurts" functions primarily as a noun, referring to multiple instances of something bursting forth or experiencing a sudden increase. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it often describes rapid but temporary increases in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Unknown/unmatched sources

8%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spurts" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to describe short, sudden increases or bursts of activity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. The term appears most often in news and media, as well as encyclopedia contexts. While "spurts" is versatile, it's important to distinguish its meaning from consistent, long-term "growth". Related phrases include "sudden bursts" and "intermittent surges". Use "spurts" when referring to temporary and often unpredictable bursts in various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

short bursts

Focuses on the brief duration of the occurrences.

quick bursts

Emphasizes the speed and immediacy of the occurrences.

sudden bursts

Emphasizes the abrupt and rapid nature of the occurrences.

brief outbursts

Highlights the short duration and forceful nature of the events.

rapid increases

Highlights the fast and accelerated nature of the rises.

intermittent surges

Focuses on the irregular and powerful increases.

periodic bursts

Indicates that the events happen at recurring intervals.

sporadic increases

Stresses the infrequent and scattered nature of the rises.

occasional surges

Highlights the infrequent and powerful increases.

fleeting gushes

Emphasizes the quick and transient nature of the flows.

FAQs

How can I use "spurts" in a sentence?

You can use "spurts" to describe short, sudden bursts of activity or growth. For example, "The company saw "spurts" of sales during the holiday season."

What's a good alternative to the word "spurts"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "bursts", "surges", or "outbursts".

Is it correct to use "spurts" to describe consistent, long-term trends?

No, "spurts" implies a temporary and irregular increase, not a consistent trend. Use words like "growth" or "expansion" for describing sustained progress.

What's the difference between "spurts" and "growth"?

"Spurts" refers to short-lived, often unpredictable increases, while "growth" suggests a more consistent and sustained positive change.