Definitions
- Describing something that occurs at irregular intervals or with breaks in between. - Referring to something that is not continuous or consistent. - Talking about something that happens on and off, with periods of activity and inactivity.
- Describing something that occurs at regular intervals or with a fixed pattern. - Referring to something that happens repeatedly after a certain period of time. - Talking about something that has a predictable cycle or rhythm.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe something that happens repeatedly.
- 2Both words refer to events that occur over time.
- 3Both words can be used to describe patterns or cycles.
What is the difference?
- 1Timing: Intermittent refers to events that happen irregularly or with breaks in between, while periodic refers to events that happen at regular intervals.
- 2Consistency: Intermittent suggests that the events are not continuous or consistent, while periodic implies a predictable pattern or cycle.
- 3Duration: Intermittent events may occur for short or long periods of time, while periodic events usually have a fixed duration.
- 4Frequency: Intermittent events may happen infrequently or frequently, while periodic events happen regularly and predictably.
- 5Usage: Intermittent is more commonly used to describe things like symptoms, weather, or problems, while periodic is more commonly used to describe things like cycles, patterns, or events.
Remember this!
Intermittent and periodic are both words used to describe events that happen repeatedly over time. However, the difference between them lies in their timing, consistency, duration, frequency, and usage. Intermittent events happen irregularly or with breaks in between, while periodic events happen at regular intervals. Intermittent suggests that the events are not continuous or consistent, while periodic implies a predictable pattern or cycle.