what frequency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what frequency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring about the specific frequency of an event, signal, or occurrence. Example: "Can you tell me what frequency the radio station broadcasts on?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You'll need to check what frequency the router transmits on.

The New York Times - Tech

§ 3809.600 With what frequency will BLM inspect my operations?

Cornell University

How you contribute, how much you contribute, and at what frequency: still to be determined.

The Guardian

What frequency, what inner voice did Bobby find to guide him?

The New Yorker

At Playa Grande, the scientists tagged females to determine whether and with what frequency they returned.

The New York Times

Questions to ask might include: Do you watch any of these shows, and with what frequency?

The New York Times

"You need electronics that read out that it's moving and at what frequency," says Zettl.

MIT Technology Review

We also need to know "how much?", "'with what frequency?" and "with what intensity?".

Revista de Calidad Asistencial

Information for how and at what frequency this scanning will happen will be published soon.

Cornell University

The amount the accumulator increments by each PWM cycle dictates what frequency will be produced.

Cornell University

Then they find out what the part is and what frequency it is.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what frequency", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being measured or repeated. For instance, "What frequency of exercise is recommended?" is more specific than simply, "What frequency is best?"

Common error

Avoid using "what frequency" without a clear subject of reference. Saying "adjust the frequency" is less effective than "adjust the refresh frequency of the display".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what frequency" functions as an interrogative phrase, typically used to inquire about the rate or recurrence of an event, signal, or activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what frequency" is a grammatically sound and versatile interrogative, primarily used to inquire about the rate or recurrence of events, signals, or activities. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable for diverse contexts, ranging from scientific research to news reporting. While alternatives like "how often" exist, "what frequency" maintains a level of formality that can be valuable in specific professional settings. Its consistent usage across authoritative sources underscores its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recurrence rate

Similar to rate of recurrence but more concise.

frequency of occurrence

Specifies the rate at which an event or phenomenon happens.

rate of recurrence

Indicates how often something repeats or returns.

repetition frequency

Highlights the frequency of something repeated.

how often

A simpler, more direct way of asking about frequency.

at what intervals

Emphasizes the time gaps between occurrences.

periodicity

Refers to the regularity of intervals.

degree of repetition

Focuses on the extent to which something is repeated.

level of incidence

Highlights the number of times something occurs.

how repeatedly

Emphasizes the repeated nature of an event.

FAQs

How can I use "what frequency" in a sentence?

You can use "what frequency" to ask about the rate at which something occurs, such as, "At "what frequency" should I water my plants?" or "What frequency does this radio station broadcast on?"

What's a good alternative to "what frequency"?

Alternatives include "how often", "at what rate", or "with "what regularity"", depending on the context.

Is it better to use "what frequency" or "how often"?

Both are correct, but "how often" is generally simpler and more common in everyday conversation. "What frequency" might be preferred in more technical or formal contexts.

Can "what frequency" refer to things other than time-based events?

Yes, it can. While often used regarding time, "what frequency" can also refer to the rate or recurrence of any event or signal, such as in the context of radio waves or data sampling.