Now and then vs Sometimes

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Now and then

Top 2,000 (common)

Sometimes

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 adverb

Most common: Sometimes

	Now and then	Sometimes
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //naʊ ənd ðɛn// 🇺🇸 //naʊ ənd ðɛn//	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsʌmtaɪmz/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsʌmtaɪmz/"]/
Meaning	Occasionally, not often.	at certain times, but not always
Example	I like to go hiking now and then.	Sometimes I like to go for a walk in the park.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	-	A1
Part of speech		adverb
Collocations	meet now and then, visit now and then, feel happy now and then, do something exciting now and then, give a call now and then	sometimes I feel, sometimes it happens, sometimes you need, sometimes more is less, sometimes in life
Antonyms	-	always, never
Common mistakes	Confused with 'now and again' — slightly different but similar meaning., Used incorrectly in past tense — should indicate present or future., Incorrectly combined with more specific time references.	Confuse with 'sometimes' and 'sometime' - they have different meanings., Using 'sometimes' when 'always' is meant., Incorrect placement in a sentence, e.g., 'I eat sometimes apples.'
Usage notes	Used in everyday conversation and informal writing. Avoid in formal contexts. Can indicate unpredictability or infrequency.	Used to indicate regularity in actions, but not consistency. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts; avoid in very formal writing.

See it in real clips

Sherlock › S1 E1

Now and then, yes.

Now and then

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

Yeah, well, sometimes forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest, doesn't it?

the way they sometimes precede their idea with a little phrase, see, like...

Breaking Bad › S1 E5

sometimes your luck can change.

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

Yeah, well, sometimes forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest, doesn't it?

the way they sometimes precede their idea with a little phrase, see, like...

Sometimes

Frequently asked questions: Now and then vs Sometimes

What's the difference between Now and then and Sometimes?

Now and then: Occasionally, not often. Sometimes: at certain times, but not always

Which is more common: Now and then and Sometimes?

Sometimes is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Now and then: I like to go hiking now and then. Sometimes: Sometimes I like to go for a walk in the park.

Can I use Now and then and Sometimes interchangeably?

Not always. Now and then and Sometimes are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.