that sometimes happens

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'that sometimes happens' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to events that happen sporadically, rather than regularly. For example, "We had an issue with the projector, but that sometimes happens with technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

In this respect, in fact, it should also be stressed that, sometimes, [27], there could even be an isolated epileptic headache without any other associated ictal epileptic manifestations nor EEG abnormalities recognizable by scalp EEG recording, whose ictal origin can be, conversely, demonstrated by depth electrode studies (see patient number 2 by Laplante et al. [27]).

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Trying to use the sense of isolation, of separation that sometimes 3-D gives you, to heighten that at appropriate moments.

Wikipedia

The inlet, which experiences tidal flows that sometimes exceed 30 feet (9 metres) in a daily cycle, is a salmon- and herring-fishing ground and an oil field.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Formation: Usually it's 4-3-3, though that sometimes becomes 3-4-3, as it did against Milan in the second leg.

BBC

Unlike the monumental Egyptian survivals in a decorative hand that sometimes exceeded 100 feet in length, Greek rolls seldom exceeded 35 feet in length and featured little embellishment.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Others say the company has cramped dormitories that sometimes house 10 to a room.

The New York Times - Tech

Ms. Hood, in an apron and often sweaty from baking in a kitchen that sometimes reaches 104 degrees, transmits unflappable cheerfulness, even with prickly customers.

The New York Times

"Leveraging our technology, we should be able to shave years off of the standard drug development process that sometimes takes 15 years and costs billions of dollars," said Andrew M. Radin, twoXAR co-founder and chief business officer.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Still, Chandra detected torrents of x-rays from flares that sometimes approached 100 million degrees.

Science Magazine

A unique feature of omental paragonimiasis is the multiple, irregularly shaped, conglomerate calcifications that sometimes occur [24].

Insights into Imaging

But in March 2005, currents shifted suddenly and flowed from the south at speeds that sometimes exceeded 15 centimeters per second.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that sometimes happens" to acknowledge an issue without overemphasizing it. For instance, "The system might lag occasionally, but "that sometimes happens" with high traffic".

Common error

Avoid using "that sometimes happens" in highly formal or critical reports. Opt for a more precise and professional tone to convey the issue and its potential impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that sometimes happens" functions as an explanatory remark or a mitigating statement. It's used to acknowledge an event or situation that occurs infrequently and is often used to normalize or downplay the significance of the event. This aligns with Ludwig's assessment of its usability.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that sometimes happens" is a grammatically sound and usable expression used to acknowledge an event that occurs occasionally. Ludwig confirms its correctness. While it is more informal, its primary function is to provide a mild acceptance of infrequent events. Due to the absence of examples across the major source categories, its frequency is labelled as missing and usage is best suited for informal conversational or written contexts. Remember to use more formal and precise language in official environments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that occasionally occurs

Replaces "sometimes" with "occasionally", indicating a less frequent occurrence.

that sporadically occurs

Replaces "sometimes" with "sporadically", highlighting the irregular nature of the event.

that may happen occasionally

Combines "may happen" with "occasionally" to show a low probability of occurence.

that infrequently arises

Substitutes "sometimes happens" with "infrequently arises", emphasizing the rarity of the event.

that happens once in a while

Uses a more common idiom to indicate infrequent occurrence.

that crops up now and then

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey the idea of something happening sporadically.

that arises from time to time

Replaces "sometimes happens" with a more formal "arises from time to time", indicating periodic occurrences.

that is an occasional event

Rephrases the idea to focus on the event's occasional nature.

that is not unusual

Expresses that something can occur, but not all the time.

that is known to occur

Indicates that something may occur, based on previous known incidents.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "that sometimes happens" to sound more formal?

Consider alternatives like "that occasionally occurs", "that infrequently arises", or "that arises from time to time" to convey a more formal tone. You can find them at "that occasionally occurs", "that infrequently arises", and "that arises from time to time".

Is "that sometimes happens" appropriate for business communication?

While usable, it may come off as informal. Depending on the situation, opt for a more professional expression such as "this may occur", or "this occasionally presents itself".

What does "that sometimes happens" imply about the frequency of an event?

The phrase implies that the event is not frequent or regular, but it is also not entirely unexpected. It suggests that it's an occasional occurrence.

Can "that sometimes happens" be used to excuse a serious error?

It's best to avoid using this phrase when addressing serious errors. Instead, focus on acknowledging the issue, explaining the cause, and outlining steps to prevent it in the future. It is better to use something that conveys your accountability instead.