a day apart

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a day apart" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe two different events or dates that are separated by a day. For example: "The two tournaments will take place a day apart - the first on Saturday and the second on Sunday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

"Our parents had never spent a day apart.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Their birthdays are a day apart in May, so they always celebrated together.

The New York Times

Cots cost €30 a day (apart from that, children under two stay free).

The Guardian - Travel

The couple married nine weeks later, and have not spent a day apart since.

The New York Times

These new eruptions of violence, coming just a day apart, only confirm the urgency of solving the nation's gun problem.

The New York Times

By mid-June, when the companies announced settlements of huge class action lawsuits a day apart, he was reeling.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Six games are scheduled before the first Test, including against Super Rugby opponents the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders and Chiefs, with all midweek fixtures taking place on a Tuesday, apart from a Wednesday appointment with the Blues.

The Guardian - Sport

It was a nice day, apart from the swollen joints, salty sweat-lined pudgy faces and damp T-shirts, and we were nearly home free.

The Guardian - Opinion

So this is what I do when someone else has been looking after my child and we've had a long day apart from each other.

Vice

Exposures were a minimum of 1 day apart, and the median interval between exposures was 1 week.

Environmental Health Perspectives

They came back one day apart, as a senator and a president.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a day apart" to clearly indicate that two events or dates are separated by exactly one day. For instance, "The conferences are scheduled a day apart, allowing attendees to travel between locations."

Common error

Avoid using "a day apart" when you actually mean consecutive days. "A day apart" implies a gap, whereas consecutive days mean they follow each other directly without interruption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a day apart" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the temporal separation between two events or entities. It specifies the precise interval of one day.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

34%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a day apart" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe events or dates separated by exactly one day. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various applications. To ensure clarity, use it to avoid ambiguity when indicating a specific one-day separation, and avoid it when events occur on consecutive days. Remember, accurately portraying time intervals enhances your writing's clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

separated by one day

Emphasizes the act of separation and specifies the duration as one day.

with a day in between

Specifies that there is a day separating two events or points in time.

one day removed

Focuses on the separation between events, highlighting the gap of one day.

spaced one day from each other

Highlights the spacing or arrangement of events with a one-day gap.

a single day's difference

Highlights the minimal difference in time, focusing on the day.

one day following

Indicates a sequence where one event occurs one day after another.

one day distant

Suggests a temporal distance of one day between two points.

a 24-hour interval

Uses a more precise measurement of time to indicate the separation.

on consecutive days

Implies events happening on subsequent days, but does not explicitly indicate separation.

a day before or after

Suggests a proximity of one day, allowing for either precedence or subsequence.

FAQs

How can I use "a day apart" in a sentence?

You can use "a day apart" to describe events or dates that are separated by one day. For example, "The two workshops are scheduled "a day apart", with the first on Monday and the second on Wednesday".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "a day apart"?

Alternatives include "separated by one day", "one day removed", or "with a day in between". These phrases all indicate a similar time interval.

Is it correct to say "one day apart" instead of "a day apart"?

While "one day apart" isn't inherently incorrect, "a day apart" is the more common and idiomatic expression. Using "a" sounds more natural in most contexts.

What's the difference between "a day apart" and "on consecutive days"?

"A day apart" implies a gap of one day between two events, whereas "on consecutive days" means the events happen on subsequent days without any gap. For example, Monday and Wednesday are "a day apart", while Monday and Tuesday are on consecutive days.