yes sometimes

USAGE SUMMARY

Sometimes is an acceptable phrase to use when you want to express agreement with something.
For example, "Do you think they'll be able to finish the project on time?" "Yes, sometimes projects take longer than expected."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yes, sometimes things are done twice, and yes, sometimes things are missed' 12C.

BMC Family Practice

Sometimes yes, sometimes no).

The New York Times

The answer is yes, sometimes.

The Economist

"Sometimes yes, sometimes no," he said.

The New York Times - Magazine

So yes, sometimes it's just getting access to the person that can make that happen".

Environmental Systems Research

So yes, sometimes you are a dinosaur.

Huffington Post

So yes, sometimes there are conflicts between groups.

Vice

The answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no.

BMC Biology

Well, yes, sometimes they are.

The New York Times - Sports

That said, yes, sometimes it is difficult.

The New Yorker

The answer is, yes, sometimes he did.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "yes sometimes" to express agreement while acknowledging that the statement isn't universally true. This adds nuance and avoids overgeneralization.

Common error

Avoid using "yes sometimes" excessively in formal contexts like academic papers or business reports. Opt for more precise language to convey varying degrees of certainty, such as "occasionally", "frequently", or "rarely", depending on the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "yes sometimes" primarily functions as an affirmative response that acknowledges the truth of a statement under certain conditions. Ludwig indicates that it is an acceptable expression. The examples show its use in various contexts to express conditional agreement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "yes sometimes" is a common phrase used to express conditional agreement. Ludwig's analysis indicates it's acceptable and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While grammatically sound, more formal writing might benefit from more precise alternatives. It functions as an affirmative response that acknowledges exceptions or specific circumstances, providing a more nuanced and qualified agreement. The phrase is versatile but should be used judiciously, especially in formal writing, to maintain clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yes, on occasion

Emphasizes the infrequency of the event.

yes, from time to time

Highlights the sporadic nature of the occurrence.

yes, now and then

Indicates an irregular or intermittent frequency.

yes, but not always

Introduces a condition that limits the agreement.

yes, depending on the situation

Adds a specific conditional aspect to the agreement.

yes, in some instances

Suggests that the agreement is limited to particular cases.

yes, under certain circumstances

Specifies that the agreement is contingent upon specific conditions.

yes, it depends

Highlights the uncertainty and conditionality of the agreement.

yes, but it's not guaranteed

Emphasizes the lack of certainty in the agreement.

yes, potentially

Implies a possibility rather than a certainty.

FAQs

How can I use "yes sometimes" in a sentence?

You can use "yes sometimes" to express agreement with a condition or occasional occurrence. For example, if asked "Do you ever feel overwhelmed?", you could respond with "Yes, sometimes I feel overwhelmed when deadlines are tight".

What are some alternatives to "yes sometimes"?

Alternatives include "yes occasionally", "yes from time to time", or "yes depending on the situation". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "yes sometimes" grammatically correct?

Yes, "yes sometimes" is grammatically acceptable in informal and conversational contexts. While not strictly adhering to formal grammatical rules, it's widely understood and commonly used to convey conditional agreement.

What's the difference between "yes sometimes" and "sometimes"?

"Yes sometimes" explicitly indicates agreement followed by a qualification, while "sometimes" simply indicates frequency. For instance, to the question "Do you eat pizza?" the response "Yes sometimes" expresses agreement to the query with an additional condition (occasional eating), instead, answering just "Sometimes" only expresses the frequency without an explicit agreement.