very sometimes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very sometimes" is not standard in written English and may be considered awkward or incorrect.
It could be used informally to emphasize the rarity of an occurrence, but it is not commonly accepted in formal writing. Example: "I very sometimes go for a run in the morning, but it's quite rare."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Even stupid can mean very sometimes, in which case, my previous sentence makes absolutely no sense, especially because fucking was used to mean very.

Vice

These companies, with the sword of foreign competition hanging over them, have become relentlessly dynamic and very (sometimes brutally) efficient.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Sometimes very angry, sometimes very cajoling, always brilliantly written and conceived".

The New York Times - Magazine

Sometimes very dense, sometimes bewildering, it's never dull.

The Guardian - Music

He was also very funny – sometimes knowingly, sometimes not.

The Guardian

"Sometimes it was very funny, sometimes less," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Sometimes it's very personal, sometimes it's emotional.

Huffington Post

Sometimes they are considered as very close; sometimes they are seen as independent.

Psychologie Française

Very few, sometimes none.

The New York Times - Magazine

Very painful, sometimes terrifying".

The New Yorker

It's very distressing sometimes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "very sometimes" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more accepted adverbs of frequency, such as "occasionally", "rarely", or "seldom".

Common error

Don't combine intensifiers like "very" directly with adverbs of frequency like "sometimes". Instead, choose a single, appropriate adverb or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very sometimes" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to indicate the frequency of an action or state. Ludwig AI marks this construction as grammatically questionable, suggesting that it does not follow standard English grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "very sometimes" is a grammatically questionable construction that aims to express infrequent occurrences. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it's better to opt for standard adverbs of frequency like "occasionally" or "rarely" to ensure clarity and correctness. While the phrase appears in some online content, it is generally considered informal and should be avoided in formal writing. Using more precise language improves the overall quality and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally

Replaces both the intensifier and the frequency adverb with a single, standard adverb.

rarely

Emphasizes the infrequency of an event.

seldom

Similar to rarely, but slightly more formal.

hardly ever

Informal way to express infrequent occurrence.

not very often

More verbose but clearer alternative.

once in a while

Indicates something happens periodically but not frequently.

from time to time

Similar to "once in a while", suggesting occasional occurrence.

on occasion

Highlights specific instances when something happens.

infrequently

Formal adverb indicating a low frequency.

very rarely

Uses "very" to intensify "rarely", but is a more standard construction.

FAQs

Is "very sometimes" grammatically correct?

The phrase "very sometimes" is generally considered grammatically incorrect or at least awkward in formal English. It's better to use alternatives like "occasionally" or "rarely".

What does "very sometimes" mean?

While not grammatically standard, "very sometimes" is used to emphasize the infrequency of something. Instead of saying "very sometimes", it's clearer to say "not very often" or "hardly ever".

Which is correct, "very sometimes" or "very rarely"?

"Very rarely" is the correct and more accepted way to express infrequent occurrences. "Very sometimes" is unusual and could be confusing. Consider also using "seldom".

How can I rephrase a sentence using "very sometimes" for better clarity?

Instead of "I "very sometimes" go for a run", you could say "I "occasionally" go for a run", "I "rarely" go for a run", or "I don't go for a run "very often"".