time and again

USAGE SUMMARY

"time and again" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is often used to emphasize something that has happened more than once. For example, "We have seen time and again that poor diet leads to health issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Time and again she spun.

The New York Times - Arts

Time and again.

Harvard University

He berated his defense time and again.

The New York Times - Sports

And he did, time and again.

The New York Times

Many addicts turn up time and again.

The Economist

That's been proven time and again".

The New York Times - Sports

A mansion remodeled time and again.

The New York Times

Time and again he has been right.

The New York Times - Sports

Time and again he has been wrong.

The New York Times - Sports

We see this time and again.

The New York Times

Courts rejected their pleas time and again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "time and again" to add emphasis when you want to stress that something happens frequently or has been repeatedly observed. It can strengthen your argument or description.

Common error

While "time and again" is a valid phrase, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "repeatedly", "frequently", or "often" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "time and again" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate that an action or event occurs repeatedly. It adds emphasis to the recurring nature of the situation. Ludwig examples confirm this adverbial usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

13%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "time and again" is a common and versatile adverbial phrase used to emphasize repetition or recurrence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical status and frequent usage across various contexts. While suitable for both formal and informal writing, it's essential to avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "repeatedly" or "frequently" to maintain clarity and engagement. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, highlighting its role in emphasizing patterns and recurring events. Remember to use it strategically to strengthen your writing and underscore the importance of repeated actions or observations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

again and again

This alternative is a direct synonym, highlighting the successive nature of the occurrences.

over and over

This alternative emphasizes the continuous and cyclical nature of the repetition.

time after time

This alternative emphasizes the consistent recurrence across different instances.

repeatedly

This alternative is more concise and directly emphasizes the act of repeating.

frequently

This alternative emphasizes the high occurrence rate of something.

often

This is a simple and direct way to indicate that something happens a lot.

on numerous occasions

This alternative is more formal and highlights the variety of instances where something happens.

consistently

This alternative emphasizes the unchanging nature of the repetition or pattern.

in many instances

This alternative emphasizes that the events happened in a series of distinct cases.

as a recurring event

This is a more descriptive phrase indicating that the action or situation happens regularly.

FAQs

How can I use "time and again" in a sentence?

"Time and again" is used to indicate that something happens repeatedly. For example, "We have seen "time and again" that hard work leads to success."

What are some alternatives to using "time and again"?

You can use alternatives like "repeatedly", "frequently", or "often" depending on the context.

Is "time and again" formal or informal?

"Time and again" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "again and again" and ""time and again""?

Both phrases are very similar, but ""time and again"" might imply a slightly longer duration or more significant instances of repetition than "again and again", although they are largely interchangeable.