three successive occasions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "three successive occasions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to events or instances that occur one after the other without interruption. Example: "She won the championship title on three successive occasions, proving her dominance in the sport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

It was necessary to maintain secrecy while co-ordinating simultaneous print publication, on three successive occasions, with media groups in five different countries and differing time zones.

The Guardian

Twitter: @AquabatiqueBeth Nick Gillingham MBE is a double Olympic medallist swimmer, former World and Commonwealth Champion and European Champion on three successive occasions rewriting the history books in doing so.

The Guardian - Sport

The high point was his performance at the French Open, where he came from two sets to love down on three successive occasions to reach the quarterfinals, culminating in an thrilling victory over Nicolas Almagro.

The New York Times

The repeatability was performed over the specific concentration range through replicate analysis of three concentrations of PG in pure form on three successive occasions.

Chemistry Central Journal

Repeatability: the repeatability was performed through replicate analysis of three concentrations of the three drugs over the specified working concentration range in pure form on three successive occasions.

Chemistry Central Journal

Tournament history: Winners in 1973 , 1993and 2009, having been runners-up on three successive occasions in 1978 , 1982 and 1988

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Arguably his prime was in the mid-1950s when the club finished sixth in the Third Division North on four successive occasions.

Independent

But he's above Joe Namath (who has refused to give Mr. Lefkowitz an autograph on four successive occasions), and Mr. Namath is well above Mr. Onassis.

The New York Times

Liverpool, with a great side, gave the League Cup credibility for a while by winning it on four successive occasions up to and including 1984, when they contested their first major final with Everton.

The Guardian - Sport

Only twice has a crew managed to win gold in the men's four on four successive occasions - Britain between 1908 and 1932 and East Germany between 1968 and 1980.

BBC

The ever-popular 11-year-old, ridden by Ruby Walsh, won the race on four successive occasions from 2006 before being beaten by Long Run last season.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "three successive occasions" to clearly indicate that an event or action has happened three times consecutively, without any intervening occurrences. This phrasing adds a sense of emphasis and regularity to the description.

Common error

Avoid using "three successive occasions" when the events are not directly following one another. If there's a break or interruption, consider using a phrase like "three separate occasions" or specifying the time intervals between the events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "three successive occasions" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the frequency and sequence of an event. It clarifies how often and in what order something occurred. According to Ludwig, this is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

67%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "three successive occasions" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the sequential and repetitive nature of an event. According to Ludwig, the expression is correct and usable in English. It is commonly found in both news and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure the events truly follow one another without interruption. For more informal contexts, alternatives like "three times in a row" might be more suitable. While Ludwig provides several examples of its use, remember to choose the phrasing that best fits your specific context and audience. "Three successive occasions" is best suited when emphasizing regularity and consistent repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

three consecutive times

Replaces "occasions" with "times" and "successive" with "consecutive", emphasizing the number of repetitions.

on three sequential instances

Replaces "occasions" with the more formal "instances" and "successive" with "sequential".

three times in a row

Uses a more informal and direct expression to convey the idea of sequential occurrences.

three back-to-back instances

Emphasizes the lack of interruption between the three occurrences.

three straight occasions

Uses "straight" as a more colloquial synonym for "successive".

in three sequential events

Shifts the focus to the events themselves rather than the occasions.

three uninterrupted instances

Highlights that the events occurred without any break or pause.

three recurring instances

Suggests that the instances are not only sequential but also repeat over a longer period.

three recurring instances

Highlights that the instances are not only sequential but also repeat over a longer period.

on three separate but consecutive occasions

Specifies that the occasions are distinct but follow one after another.

FAQs

How can I use "three successive occasions" in a sentence?

You can use "three successive occasions" to describe events that happen one after another. For example, "The team won the championship on "three successive occasions", demonstrating their consistent performance."

What are some alternatives to "three successive occasions"?

Alternatives include "three consecutive times", "three times in a row", or "on three sequential instances", depending on the level of formality required.

Is it more formal to say "three successive occasions" or "three times in a row"?

"Three successive occasions" is generally considered more formal than "three times in a row", which is more conversational. Choose the phrasing that best suits the context and audience.

What's the difference between "successive" and "separate" when describing occasions?

"Successive" implies that the occasions happen one after another without interruption. "Separate" simply means they are distinct, but doesn't necessarily mean they are consecutive. For example, "She visited the museum on three separate occasions" doesn't specify if those visits were consecutive or spread out over time, but "She visited the museum on "three successive occasions"" indicates the visits were consecutive.