there were occasions when

USAGE SUMMARY

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

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

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

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

Nitrification was generally maintained over the 3-year period although there were occasions when the process was inconsistent.

Water Research

The vice president confesses he thought there were occasions when his boss was deliberate to a fault.

The Washington Post

And both recognised that there were occasions when a journalist should stop working and try to help.

The Guardian

Like all bowlers he said that there were occasions when "I had bowled better but not taken any flipping wickets".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were occasions when" to introduce specific instances, especially when highlighting recurring but not constant events. This emphasizes that something happened more than once, but not always.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "there were occasions when" can sound verbose in very formal writing. Opt for more concise alternatives like "sometimes" or "occasionally" to maintain a streamlined tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were occasions when" functions as an adverbial phrase, introducing a clause that specifies the time or circumstances under which something occurred. It adds detail about the frequency or conditions of the event being described. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

19%

Sport

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there were occasions when" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that something happened multiple times but not always. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase effectively introduces instances or situations, often found in news, science, and sports contexts. While versatile, it's best to consider more concise alternatives like "sometimes" or "occasionally" in formal writing to maintain a streamlined tone. Remember that you can also emphasize specific occurrences using phrases such as "there were instances when" if that is more relevant to your content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were times when

Uses "times" instead of "occasions", offering a more general alternative with slightly less formal connotation.

there were instances when

Substitutes "occasions" with "instances", highlighting specific occurrences rather than periods.

there were moments when

Replaces "occasions" with "moments", emphasizing brief periods when something happened.

there were instances in which

Similar to "there were instances when", but adds a slightly more formal tone by using "in which" instead of "when".

on some occasions

Rearranges the structure to emphasize "occasions" and uses "some" to indicate that it wasn't every time.

sometimes

A more concise alternative, conveying the idea of something happening intermittently.

there were circumstances when

Focuses on the surrounding conditions or situations that led to something happening.

there were situations when

Similar to "circumstances", but might imply a broader range of factors at play.

at times

A shorter, more informal way of saying something happened occasionally.

periodically

Indicates that something happened at regular intervals, differing slightly from the implication of unpredictable occurrences.

FAQs

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

Use "there were occasions when" to introduce instances where something happened, emphasizing it wasn't a one-time event. For example, "There were occasions when the team struggled, but they always persevered."

What are some alternatives to "there were occasions when"?

You can use alternatives like "there were times when", "sometimes", or "occasionally" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "there were occasions that" instead of "there were occasions when"?

While "that" can sometimes replace "when" in relative clauses, "there were occasions when" is generally preferred because it more clearly indicates a time-related circumstance.

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

"There were occasions when" implies a recurring situation or event, while "there were instances when" focuses on particular, specific occurrences. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize frequency or specific events.