7 Alternatives for "Sometimes"
How often do you …
- go out to eat?
- travel abroad?
- meet with friends?
- watch TV?
- brush your teeth?
We all do some activities more than we do others.
It's common to use "sometimes" when discussing these activities, but there are other ways to express the same idea. This article will introduce alternatives to help expand your English vocabulary and keep your conversations sounding fresh.
Adverbs of Frequency
Before we talk about "sometimes," let's look at the most common words for discussing how often something happens.
Think of the following adverbs like a scale, with "never" on one end and "always" on the other.
Never >> Rarely >> Sometimes >> Often/Usually >> Always
I never smoke cigarettes.
[I do not smoke cigarettes. = 0%]
She always calls me when she gets home from work.
[She calls every time. = 100%]
In between those two we have "rarely" (~20-30%), "sometimes" (~50%) and "often" or "usually" ~80%.
Because it's in the middle of the list, "sometimes" usually refers to something that happens around 50% of the time, but the actual frequency depends on the situation.
Alternatives for “Sometimes”
Now that we've explained where "sometimes" fits in the list of adverb frequency, let's look at some other ways to say it.
From time to time
This expression is an informal way to say that something does happen but not very often.
I cook from time to time, but I'm not very good at it.
We like to visit the beach from time to time.
Occasionally
This can also be expressed with “on occasion,” which sounds a bit more formal.
Occasionally, I'll travel by train instead of flying or driving.
I go to the movie theater on occasion, but I prefer to watch movies at home.
Once in a while
While all of the expressions introduced in this article are roughly equal to “sometimes,” there are still small differences in nuance for each. For example, “once in a while” sounds closer to "rarely" and expresses a lower frequency.
I only eat meat once in a while.
The weather is great here; it only rains once in a while.
Every now and then
This casual phrase expresses a frequency lower than 50% but perhaps more frequent than "once in a while."
Every now and then I’ll go to the sauna to relax.
They don’t live very close, so they only come to visit every now and then.
You might also hear people say “every now and again.”
It’s a good idea to back up your important files every now and again.
Every so often
"Every so often" also represents a lower frequency — perhaps between 20 and 30% on our scale.
I'm trying to slim down, so I only eat fatty foods every so often.
When the mood strikes
"When the mood strikes" is an informal way of saying “whenever I get the feeling.” That means it can’t have a place on our frequency scale; instead, it only happens at special times that cannot be planned or predicted.
I like to paint when the mood strikes, so I always have art supplies handy.
Sporadically
“Sporadic” is an adjective meaning “happening infrequently.” Therefore, “sporadically” is similar to “when the mood strikes” — it happens suddenly or unexpectedly.
The musician releases new songs sporadically; he has no regular schedule.
Responding With Alternatives to “Sometimes”
Remember that each of these expressions can also be used alone as a response to a question related to frequency.
A
Do you listen to classical music?
B
Every now and then.
A
Do you go jogging a lot?
B
From time to time. It depends on the weather that day.
Wrap-up
Part of being a fluent speaker is being able to express the same idea in multiple ways. So instead of repeating "sometimes," try these alternatives in your next English conversation.
To learn more alternatives for common English words, read our article on words to use instead of "very." Finally, don't forget to book a lesson with an Engoo tutor to try out these expressions in a friendly chat!
