What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
periodically
Example
I get my car serviced periodically to keep it in good condition. [periodically: adverb]
Example
The company holds meetings periodically to discuss progress and goals. [periodically: adverb]
sporadically
Example
I only see my old friends sporadically since we live in different cities. [sporadically: adverb]
Example
The company experiences sporadic sales spikes throughout the year. [sporadic: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Periodically is more commonly used than sporadically in everyday language. Periodically is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while sporadically is less common and tends to be used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between periodically and sporadically?
Both periodically and sporadically are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
