there were periods when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were periods when" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe specific times or intervals in the past when certain events or conditions occurred. Example: "There were periods when the economy thrived, leading to increased job opportunities for many."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

There was so much shelling there were periods when we would work solidly for 20 or 30 hours at a time.

Independent

There were periods when I was homeless.

The New Yorker

So there were periods when I was sarcastic.

The Guardian - Music

Later, there were periods when he may have worked in Asia, the magazine said.

The New York Times

That's what I thought, but there were periods when I couldn't explain what I wrote.

The New Yorker

"There were periods when we got sloppy or sleepy, whatever you want," Coach Steve Stirling said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

There's periods when you play well, periods when you play poorly.

The New York Times - Sports

In any campaign cycle, there are periods when the dynamic turns decisively in one direction.

The Guardian - Opinion

In any round there are periods when Woods seems to be operating on a plane of platonic perfection.

The New York Times - Sports

"There are periods when member counties may get more than they put in, and some periods when they may put in more," he said.

The New York Times

There are periods when it feels like we're doing a lot of physical intervention and times when we're hardly using it at all.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were periods when" to describe recurring situations or conditions within a specific timeframe. This phrase is effective for highlighting patterns or changes over time.

Common error

Avoid using "there were periods when" excessively in close proximity. Vary your sentence structure and use alternative phrases like "sometimes", "occasionally", or "there were times when" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were periods when" functions as an adverbial clause, modifying the main clause by providing information about the timing or frequency of an event. It is used to indicate that something occurred during specific intervals of time, as shown in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were periods when" is a grammatically sound and commonly used construction to indicate intermittent or recurring events within a timeframe. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for describing fluctuations or patterns. While versatile, it's important to use it judiciously and consider alternatives to prevent redundancy. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, particularly news and media, as reflected in the provided examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were times when

Replaces "periods" with "times", indicating specific moments rather than extended durations.

there were instances where

Substitutes "periods" with "instances", focusing on specific occurrences or events.

there were occasions when

Changes "periods" to "occasions", highlighting specific events or circumstances.

during some phases

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise expression, using "phases" to denote specific timeframes.

at certain junctures

Employs "junctures" to refer to specific points in time or critical moments.

in some instances

Uses a more compact phrase to convey the same meaning, focusing on specific cases.

sometimes there were

Inverts the structure for a slightly different emphasis, highlighting the existence of those times.

there were stages where

Employs "stages" to describe distinct phases or steps in a process.

there were stretches when

Replaces "periods" with "stretches", indicating continuous spans of time.

during specific intervals

Uses "intervals" to refer to defined segments of time within a larger timeframe.

FAQs

What does "there were periods when" mean?

The phrase "there were periods when" indicates that during certain intervals or stretches of time, a particular condition, event, or situation occurred. It implies that these occurrences were not constant but happened intermittently.

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

You can use "there were periods when" to describe situations that happened repeatedly over time. For example, "There were periods when the company struggled financially, but we always managed to recover".

Which is more appropriate, "there were periods when" or "there were times when"?

Both "there were periods when" and "there were times when" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. "Periods" suggests longer durations, while "times" refers to specific moments.

What are some alternatives to using "there were periods when"?

Alternatives include "sometimes", "occasionally", "at times", or ""during certain phases depending on the context".