Now

USAGE SUMMARY

'now' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the present time, often to urge someone to act quickly, or to emphasize the importance of something. Example Sentence: I need you to start the project now, so that we can meet the deadline.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Now," he said.

The New York Times

Go now.

The New York Times

Now he is back.

The New York Times

But why now?

The New York Times

I now regret it completely.

The New York Times

Now I love it".

The New York Times - Sports

And now?

The New York Times - Sports

Not so now.

The New York Times - Arts

"The British government is working with others in the world to bring peace to Gaza and we do now have a tentative ceasefire which we all hope will hold".

The Guardian

I believe that we have now obtained the balance between what in an ideal world we would like to do and what we can afford to do".

The Guardian

And now it's about giving something back".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Now" to indicate a change in time or situation within a narrative. For example: "He hesitated, but now he understood what he had to do."

Common error

Avoid starting too many sentences with "Now", as it can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using alternative phrases or rephrasing the sentence.

Linguistic Context

"Now" functions primarily as an adverb, indicating the present time or moment. It can also serve as an interjection to express urgency or a transition. According to Ludwig, this word is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Now" is a versatile term functioning as an adverb, interjection, or conjunction, primarily used to indicate the present time or a sense of immediacy. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread usage. Its communicative purpose is to orient in time, emphasize urgency, or transition narratives. While its register is generally neutral, overuse at the beginning of sentences should be avoided. Authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ "Now", underscoring its commonality in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Right now

Emphasizes the immediacy, like "Now", but adds a sense of urgency or importance.

At this moment

Focuses on the current point in time, similar to "Now" but with a slightly more formal tone.

Currently

Indicates the present period, offering a more descriptive alternative to "Now".

Presently

Similar to "Currently", but can also imply something will happen soon.

Immediately

Highlights the lack of delay, emphasizing prompt action, like using "Now" as a command.

Instantly

Stresses the speed of an action, similar to the urgent usage of "Now".

At once

Commands immediate action, echoing the imperative use of "Now".

Today

Refers to the current day, providing a temporal context similar to "Now".

In this day and age

Refers to current social context, providing a temporal context similar to "Now".

Here and now

Emphasizes the present, often in a philosophical or reflective context, similar to the noun usage of "Now".

FAQs

How can I use "Now" in a sentence?

"Now" can be used in various ways: to indicate the present time (Now is the time to act), to signal a transition (Now, let's move on to the next topic), or to express urgency (Do it now!).

What can I say instead of "Now"?

You can use alternatives like "at this moment", "right now", or "currently" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct: "Now" or "Right now"?

Both "Now" and "right now" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Right now" emphasizes immediacy and urgency more strongly than "Now".

What's the difference between "Now" and "Then"?

"Now" refers to the present time, while "then" refers to a past or future time. They are opposites in terms of temporal reference.