Intermittently for Dummies

Intermittently is a word that describes something happening at irregular intervals or in a sporadic manner. It means that there are breaks or pauses in the occurrence of an action or event. Think of it as something happening on and off, like the flickering of a light bulb that sometimes shines brightly and other times fades away. In simpler terms, when something happens intermittently, it means it doesn't occur continuously or consistently. Instead, there are periods of time when it happens, followed by periods of time when it doesn't.

Let's try to understand this concept by comparing it to a heartbeat. You know how your heart rhythmically pumps blood throughout your body, right? Well, imagine if your heart decided to take a little break after every beat. It would beat, then take a little rest, then beat again, and so on. This would be an example of an intermittent heartbeat. Sometimes it beats, sometimes it pauses.

Another way to think about intermittently is by picturing a faucet that drips water. Imagine being in a quiet room where the only sound you hear is that occasional drip. It drips, then there's a pause, then it drips again. The pauses between the drips are like the intermittent breaks, and when the water flows, it represents the times when something happens.

So, when you hear the word intermittently, just remember that it describes something happening irregularly, with breaks or pauses in between the occurrences. It's not a steady or constant action, but rather one that happens on and off, like a flickering light bulb, a pausing heart, or a dripping faucet. I hope this helps you understand the term better!