Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. Generally, the described techniques provide for determining a suitable pattern for transmitting reference signals used for positioning on allocated resources. In particular, the pattern may be used to assign the reference signals to frequency tones across multiple symbols such that the frequency tones to which the reference signals are mapped in at least two consecutive symbols are non-adjacent (e.g., separated by at least one frequency tone). In some cases, a wireless device may determine the pattern used to assign reference signals used for positioning autonomously (e.g., based on configured algorithms or a look-up table), and, in other cases, a wireless device (e.g., a user equipment (UE)) may determine the pattern used to assign reference signals used for positioning based on a configuration received from another wireless device (e.g., a base station).