this is the third time

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "This is the third time" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this sentence to indicate that an event or action has been repeated twice before. For example, you could say, "This is the third time I have asked you to do your homework - please do it now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This is the third time a Pope has received the recognition from Time magazine.

BBC

This is the third time this year Hewlett-Packard has announced it will reduce head count.

The New York Times

"This is the third time this week I've seen you here," he said.

Los Angeles Times

"This is the third time already," she wrote.

The Guardian - Sport

This is the third time I was invited.

The New York Times - Magazine

"This is the third time you've asked me about cucumbers".

The New York Times

This is the third time you've written about Harold.

The Guardian - Books

This is the third time I've talked to Anderson.

The Guardian

"This is the third time we do this programme.

The Guardian - Music

This is the third time it has been burnt down.

The Economist

This is the third time Hanson has received the HLS teaching award.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this is the third time" to clearly indicate that an event has occurred twice before, emphasizing the repetition. It can be effective in expressing frustration, highlighting a pattern, or noting a recurrence.

Common error

Ensure that the "this" in "this is the third time" clearly refers to a specific event or situation. Ambiguous references can confuse your reader. For instance, specify what is recurring rather than leaving it implicit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this is the third time" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating frequency or repetition. Ludwig examples show its use to emphasize that something has occurred on three separate occasions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this is the third time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase. According to Ludwig, it serves to emphasize repetition or recurrence. Examples gathered by Ludwig demonstrate its prevalence in various contexts, including news, academia, and general communication. While versatile, it's important to maintain clarity by ensuring the "this" refers unambiguously to the specific event or situation. Given its widespread usage and versatile applications, mastering the context-appropriate deployment of this phrase enriches one's communicative toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

This is the 3rd occurrence

Uses numerical shorthand instead of spelling out "third".

For the third time

Shorter and less direct, but conveys the same meaning.

This is the third repetition of this event

Highlights that the event or action has been repeated and is now happening for the third time.

It has happened three times now

Rephrases the idea using a different sentence structure and emphasizing the completion of three occurrences.

We've seen this happen three times

Focuses on the observation of the event happening three times.

This represents the third occasion

Formal alternative, focusing on the representation of the event as the third.

This marks the third instance

Uses more formal language to denote the current occurrence as the third in a series.

A third instance of this has occurred

Highlights the occurrence of the third instance.

On three separate occasions

Emphasizes the separation and individuality of each of the three occurrences.

It's the third time around

Uses an idiom to express the repetition of an event.

FAQs

How can I use "this is the third time" in a sentence?

You can use "this is the third time" to indicate that something has happened on three separate occasions. For instance, "This is the third time I've had to ask you to clean your room!"

What's a less direct way to say "this is the third time"?

A less direct way to phrase it would be "for the third time", which is more concise but still conveys the repeated occurrence.

Is it correct to say "this is the 3rd time" instead of "this is the third time"?

Yes, "this is the 3rd time" is acceptable, especially in informal writing or speech. However, "this is the third time" is generally preferred in more formal contexts.

Can "this is the third time" express frustration or annoyance?

Yes, "this is the third time" can definitely convey frustration or annoyance depending on the tone and context. It implies that the speaker has already addressed the issue multiple times without resolution.