[Grammar] Is he right?

[mabzki]

"Clean it every so often. I'd say every 3rd time you go to switch on the compressor"

or
​

"Clean it every so often. I'd say, every 3rd time you got to switch on the compressor"


I heard this in a tutorial video on Youtube, a guy talking about when to clean the air compressor.

 

[bhaisahab]

"Clean it every so often. I'd say every 3rd time you go to switch on the compressor"

or
​

"Clean it every so often. I'd say, every 3rd time you got to switch on the compressor"


I heard this in a tutorial video on Youtube, a guy talking about when to clean the air compressor.

In both examples "every" should be "ever".
In the second one, "got" is wrong.

 

[emsr2d2]

In both examples "every" should be "ever".
In the second one, "got" is wrong.

I hate to disagree with such a respected member, but why would you change "every" to "ever"?

Every second time I do something, it goes wrong.
I clean the compressor every third week.

What's wrong with those?

 

[bhaisahab]

I hate to disagree with such a respected member, but why would you change "every" to "ever"?

Every second time I do something, it goes wrong.
I clean the compressor every third week.

What's wrong with those?

You are right, brainstorm!

 

[mabzki]

In both examples "every" should be "ever".
In the second one, "got" is wrong.

@bhaisahab So, it goes like this? is this the correct grammar?

"Clean it ever so often. I'd say every 3rd time you go to switch on the compressor."

Is it safe to use "3rd" or "third"?

 

[JTRiff]

not a teacher

"Every so often' is common usage, totally acceptable, particularly when it's used in speech, as in this example. Means now and then, occasionally.
Ever so often... doesn't work. It means clean it a lot, all the time.

You can leave out go to or got to and it doesn't change the meaning.

"Clean it every so often. I'd say every 3rd time you (go to) switch on the compressor"
"Clean it every so often. I'd say, every 3rd time you (got to) switch on the compressor"

 

[bhaisahab]

@bhaisahab So, it goes like this? is this the correct grammar?

"Clean it ever so often. I'd say every 3rd time you go to switch on the compressor."

Is it safe to use "3rd" or "third"?

No, I made a mistake, it should be "every". "I'd say every third time you go to switch on..." is correct.

 

[mabzki]

not a teacher

"Every so often' is common usage, totally acceptable, particularly when it's used in speech, as in this example. Means now and then, occasionally.
Ever so often... doesn't work. It means clean it a lot, all the time.

You can leave out go to or got to and it doesn't change the meaning.

"Clean it every so often. I'd say every 3rd time you (go to) switch on the compressor"
"Clean it every so often. I'd say, every 3rd time you (got to) switch on the compressor"

Thanks guys, one last question, which would you prefer? "3rd" or "third". Is it safe to use both?

 

[Barb_D]

Third is more formal than 3rd. However, the tone is informal with the "I'd say" so either one is okay.

 

[mabzki]

Third is more formal than 3rd. However, the tone is informal with the "I'd say" so either one is okay.

@Barb_D
I'm sorry for my poor English understanding, what do you mean by

"the tone is informal with the "I'd say"?

 

[Barb_D]

Your original sentence has an informal feel to it.

A more formal way of saying that could be "It must be cleaned periodically. I recommend doing so every third time it's used."

(I like the informal version better.)

 

[mabzki]

@Barb_D
I like the original sentence too. Problem solve, the guy in Youtube seems to be correct. Thanks again.