But sometime

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "But sometime" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be a typographical error or an incomplete thought, as "sometime" typically needs a qualifier or context to be meaningful. Example: "But sometime in the future, we will revisit this topic."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

But sometime around 1955 the situation began to reverse.

The New Yorker

But sometime in his waning years he saw the light.

The New York Times

But sometime between then and now, habits changed.

The New York Times

But sometime in the late '80s, fashion discovered semiotics.

The New York Times

But sometime around 1100, a dark age descended.

The New York Times - Science

But sometime after the next election, you will ultimately see Republican nominees in favor of it.

The New York Times - Magazine

But sometime in the last two years, Mr. Name's archive of negatives went missing.

The New York Times - Arts

But sometime you just have to let your Lone Ranger ride.

The Guardian

But sometime in 1987, Throneberry left town without a word to anyone.

The New York Times - Magazine

But sometime after the surprisingly pacific Hell Gate, Lenderking found his rhythm.

The New York Times - Sports

But sometime soon, the Yankees will learn that they have been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey a shift or change occurring at an unspecified time, replace "But sometime" with more grammatically sound alternatives like "But at some point" or "But eventually".

Common error

Using "sometime" directly after "But" is grammatically incorrect. Always clarify when the event happened by saying "But at sometime", "But some time later" or similar.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "But sometime" functions as an attempted conjunction, aiming to introduce a contrast or shift in time. However, as flagged by Ludwig AI, its grammatical structure is incorrect, requiring modification for accurate usage. The intended function is to indicate a change or event occurring at an unspecified time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "But sometime" appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in News & Media, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies it as needing modification for proper usage. When aiming to express a shift in time, consider using alternatives like "But at some point" or "But eventually" for better clarity and grammatical correctness. Although its communicative intention is generally understandable from examples, it's best to use grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

But at some point

Replaces "sometime" with "at some point" to clarify the timing reference.

But eventually

Indicates that something happened after a period of time.

But at a certain moment

Specifies a particular point in time when a change occurred.

But after a while

Suggests that something happened following a duration of time.

But subsequently

Formally indicates that something followed in time or order.

But in due course

Implies that something happened at the appropriate time.

But in the fullness of time

Suggests something happened when the time was right.

But later on

Simply indicates that something happened at a later time.

But down the line

Informally suggests something will happen further in the future.

But after some time had passed

Elaborates that something happened after a period of time.

FAQs

Is "But sometime" grammatically correct?

No, "But sometime" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "But at some point" or "But eventually".

What are some alternatives to "But sometime"?

Alternatives include "But at some point", "But eventually", or "But after a while". The best choice depends on the specific context.

How can I use "sometime" correctly in a sentence?

Use "sometime" with a preposition, such as "at sometime" or "after sometime", or replace it with "some time" (two words) to indicate a period of time.

What's the difference between "sometime" and "some time"?

"Sometime" (one word) means "at an unspecified time in the future". "Some time" (two words) refers to a period of time.