Meaning

"Now and then" means sometimes, but not often and not on a schedule. The picture is of moments that pop up here and there on a timeline: now, then later again, with gaps in between. It sits between "sometimes" and "rarely" on the frequency scale.

It's neutral and relaxed, fine in conversation, at work and in writing. The longer form "every now and then" is even more common in speech, and "every now and again" is a variant you'll hear, especially from British speakers. All three usually go at the start or the end of a sentence, not in the middle: "Now and then, we eat out" or "We eat out every now and then."

It's a nice way to be honest without sounding bad about it. "Do you exercise?" "Now and then" admits it's not much, but in a friendly way.

In a conversation

SophiaKenji
  1. Sophia
  2. Kenji
  3. Sophia
  4. Kenji
  5. Sophia
  6. Kenji

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Check yourself

1"I go to the gym now and then." How often does the speaker go?
2Which sentence places the phrase naturally?

Practice · 3 min

Listen, then repeat. "Now and then" is three quick beats. "And" shrinks to a soft "n".

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.