there were occasions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were occasions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to specific instances or times when something happened in the past. Example: "There were occasions when I felt overwhelmed by the workload, but I managed to push through."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But throughout his 12 starts there were occasions where Dilfer did more than that.

The New York Times - Sports

Of McCain's melanomas, he said, "I suspect during the time he was held captive in Southeast Asia there were occasions when he was exposed to intense sun".

The New Yorker

There were occasions when the machinery did work that efficiently.

The New Yorker

Other banks were mostly passive-aggressive, but there were occasions when they became simply aggressive.

The New York Times - Magazine

"In minicamp, there were occasions to hand down some fines," Groh said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I think there were occasions where we should have done better to get another goal.

The Guardian - Sport

And they show that even in labor camps, there were occasions for flirting.

The New York Times - Books

There were occasions when it seemed the club anthem had changed to "You'll Never Drink Alone".

The Guardian - Sport

There were occasions when McKee might have been illuminating Alford's equation.

The New Yorker

Last season there were occasions when they could only name four substitutes.

The Guardian - Sport

There were occasions when Stanton simply refused to do the president's bidding.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there were occasions", ensure the context clearly indicates what events or circumstances occurred during those times. Provide specific details to enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Don't use "there were occasions" without specifying what happened during those occasions. Vague statements reduce the phrase's effectiveness. Provide context and details to make your writing more informative and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were occasions" functions as an existential construction indicating that particular events or circumstances occurred at certain times. As supported by Ludwig, it introduces the idea that instances of something existed or took place.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there were occasions" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something happened at specific times or instances. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as scientific publications. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; ensure you provide sufficient detail about what transpired during those occasions to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "there were times" or "there were instances" can be used depending on the specific context. Given its frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, mastering its proper use will enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were instances

Changes "occasions" to "instances", which is a direct synonym, resulting in a high degree of interchangeability.

there were times

Replaces "occasions" with "times", which emphasizes the temporal aspect of the occurrences.

there were instances when

Adds "when" to clarify the conditional or temporal context of the occurrences.

sometimes there were

Inverts the sentence structure to emphasize the frequency of the occurrences.

on some occasions

Uses "on some occasions" to highlight specific instances rather than a general sense of happening.

there were instances in which

Substitutes "occasions" with "instances" and adds "in which" for a more formal tone.

at times there were

Highlights that occurrences happened periodically rather than continuously.

periodically there were

Emphasizes that occurrences recurred or happened at intervals.

at certain moments there were

Focuses on specific points in time when events happened.

certainly there were

Affirms that particular occurrences definitely happened.

FAQs

How can I use "there were occasions" in a sentence?

Use "there were occasions" to indicate that something happened sometimes or in certain instances. For example, "There were occasions when the team struggled, but they always persevered."

What are some alternatives to "there were occasions"?

Alternatives include "there were times", "there were instances", or "on some occasions", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "there were occasions" formal or informal?

"There were occasions" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is a neutral phrase commonly used in various types of writing and speech.

What's the difference between "there were occasions" and "there were opportunities"?

"There were occasions" refers to specific instances when something happened, while "there were opportunities" indicates available chances or possibilities. They are used in different contexts.