What time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "What time" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to inquire about the specific hour or moment something is scheduled to happen. Example: "What time does the meeting start?"

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

What time of day are classes?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

What time of day was it?

The New York Times

What time of day is it?

WikiHow

What time of day is your talk?

WikiHow

Q: So what free stuff are you scoring these days?

Los Angeles Times

What do you do when you're a Gundam otaku and have 95 days (or more than 300 hours) of free time?

TechCrunch

What classes will you have today and at what time?

WikiHow

How will I know if I've done what I'm supposed to do in class on book club days?

Columbia University

What, exactly, is free time?

Harvard Business Review

What had he been doing all day?

The New York Times

Q: How much free time will I have, and what happens after class?

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When inquiring about schedules, use "What time" to clearly and directly ask for the hour or moment something is planned. For example: "What time does the concert begin" is more direct than simply asking "When is the concert".

Common error

Avoid using "What time" when you need broader scheduling information (such as dates), as it specifically requests the hour. Instead, use "When" if the date is more relevant than the exact hour.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "What time" functions primarily as an interrogative phrase used to elicit information about a specific point in time. This usage is supported by Ludwig's analysis, indicating its correctness and common use in asking about scheduled events or activities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "What time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used interrogative phrase for inquiring about the hour or specific moment of an event. As confirmed by Ludwig's AI, it is deemed correct and widely applicable across various contexts. While alternatives like "at what time" offer a more formal tone, understanding the subtle nuances of the phrase ensures clarity and precision in your communication. When you want to know only about the hour or moment of a scheduled activity ask "What time", otherwise if you are seeking for dates or day of the week use "when".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

At what time

Adds formality, emphasizing precision in the hour.

What is the scheduled time

More formal and specific about seeking the officially planned time.

What hour

Emphasizes the specific hour something will occur.

When

Focuses on the date or occasion rather than the precise hour.

When is it

Asks for the timing but can be less specific, potentially referring to the date as well.

What moment

Focuses on a very specific instant or point in time.

Time of event

More generic; refers to the schedule without explicitly requesting it.

Timing of

Refers generally to when something will happen, without a direct question.

Schedule

Broader term indicating a list of times for various events.

Occurrence time

More technical or formal, suitable for schedules or logs.

FAQs

How to use "What time" in a sentence?

Use "What time" to ask about a specific hour or moment. For example: "What time does the movie start?" or "What time will you arrive"?

What can I say instead of "What time"?

Alternatives include "At what time" for a more formal tone, or "When" if you need the date as well.

Which is correct, "What time is it?" or "What time it is?"

"What time is it?" is the correct grammatical structure for a direct question. "What time it is" is typically used within a statement, such as "I don't know what time it is".

What's the difference between "What time" and "When"?

"What time" asks for a specific hour, whereas "When" can refer to a date, day, or general period. For example: "What time is the meeting?" versus "When is the meeting scheduled"?