At that stage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "At that stage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific point in a process or timeline when discussing events or decisions. Example: "At that stage, we had already completed the initial research and were ready to move on to the next phase of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"In fact, we're already at that stage".

The Guardian

Ooh! We're not at that stage!' Internal monologue.

The Guardian - Opinion

Manchester City are not quite at that stage yet.

The Guardian - Sport

We're essentially at that stage now, via ubiquitous smartphones.

The Guardian

We're not quite at that stage yet.

BBC

At that stage, they were.

The Guardian - Sport

At that stage, ignominy had beckoned.

The Guardian - Sport

"At that stage, they laughed," he said.

The Guardian - Tech

At that stage, it's over anyway.

The New York Times

At that stage Mathews had 54.

The Guardian - Sport

At that stage, Safin was 5-11.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "At that stage" to clearly indicate a specific phase or point in a process or narrative, ensuring the reader understands the temporal context of the events being described.

Common error

Avoid using "At that stage" without clearly establishing what "that stage" refers to. Always provide enough context so the reader can easily understand the specific time or phase you are referencing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "At that stage" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the time or phase when an action occurred or a condition existed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Sports

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "At that stage" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that effectively specifies a particular point or phase in a sequence of events. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and suitable for different registers, but mainly in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. When using "At that stage", it's important to provide sufficient context to ensure clarity. Alternatives include "at that point" and "at that moment", offering subtle variations in meaning while maintaining the same fundamental function.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

At that point

Substitutes "stage" with "point", keeping the temporal reference intact but using a slightly more common word.

At that moment

Replaces "stage" with "moment", emphasizing a specific instant rather than a phase.

At that juncture

Uses "juncture" instead of "stage", suggesting a critical point in time or events.

During that period

Replaces "at" with "during" and "stage" with "period", shifting focus to a span of time.

In that phase

Uses "phase" instead of "stage", highlighting a specific period in a process.

By that time

Indicates a point in time that has been reached before something else happens.

At that instance

Replaces "stage" with "instance", emphasizing a particular occurrence.

In those circumstances

Shifts focus from time to the surrounding conditions or situation.

Under those conditions

Similar to "In those circumstances", emphasizing the prevailing conditions.

Given that situation

Highlights the situation as the context for something else.

FAQs

How can I use "At that stage" in a sentence?

"At that stage" is used to specify a particular point or phase in a process, project, or narrative. For example: "At that stage, we had completed the initial research."

What are some alternatives to "At that stage"?

You can use alternatives such as "at that point", "at that moment", or "during that period" depending on the context.

Is "At that stage" formal or informal?

"At that stage" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal writing, though more formal alternatives like "at that juncture" might be preferred in certain contexts.

What's the difference between "At that stage" and "At this stage"?

"At that stage" refers to a point or phase previously mentioned or understood in the context, while "At this stage" refers to the current point or phase.