a helpful time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a helpful time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a period that is beneficial or productive in some way. Example: "I had a helpful time during the workshop, learning new skills and networking with others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

(At Longreads, Danielle Tcholakian has maintained a helpful time line).

The New Yorker

So much so he's shared the name of the city in which he plans to marry her and a helpful time frame for any prospective media hoping to document the proceedings.

Independent

The endorsement comes at a helpful time for Clinton as Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders surges in polls.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

For smartphone users with GPS-enabled devices, the app will show available tables locally, which is a helpful time-saving feature.

The New York Times - Tech

Times Topics: National Debt An index of Times articles and multimedia about the national debt and the debt ceiling; includes a helpful Times-written overview.

The New York Times

If you freelance or run a small business, Harvest is a helpful time-tracking tool that can also manage projects and create and send simplified invoices.

TechCrunch

It does so at a particularly helpful time for President Kim, just three days before important Congressional elections that will determine how much political authority he commands during the remaining three years of his term.

The New York Times

This may not be a welcome or helpful time for a theological explanation or generalization.

Huffington Post

However, it has been suggested that 12-24 hours after surgery may be the most helpful time for patients [ 29].

BMC Nursing

Less than 24 hours after I left a message on the site's answering machine for customer service to complain that "Me, Myself and Irene" was not available, I received a call offering a helpful tip: the best time of day to order a new release is after 4 p.m., when the day's returns have been checked in.

The New York Times - Tech

The ITSx script (46) has been a helpful and time-saving tool in curating the ITS records.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a helpful time" to describe a specific period when assistance or positive progress was made, like saying, "The collaboration provided "a helpful time" for problem-solving."

Common error

Avoid using "a helpful time" in overly broad or vague situations. Instead of saying, "It was "a helpful time", be specific about what made it helpful, such as "It was a helpful time for gathering resources."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a helpful time" functions as a noun phrase, with "helpful" modifying the noun "time". It serves to describe a specific period characterized by its beneficial or advantageous nature, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a helpful time" is a grammatically correct but infrequent phrase used to describe a beneficial or productive period. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, while offering alternatives like "a beneficial period" or "a valuable experience" for varied contexts. The phrase sees usage across News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, but may be less common in formal business settings. To use it effectively, specify what made the time helpful, avoiding overuse in general contexts. Remember, While grammatically sound, the relative rarity of this phrase means it may be suitable to use other alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a beneficial period

Replaces "helpful" with "beneficial", emphasizing the positive effects or advantages of the time.

a productive interval

Substitutes "helpful" with "productive" and "time" with "interval", highlighting efficiency and output during the period.

an advantageous moment

Replaces "helpful" with "advantageous" and "time" with "moment", focusing on the opportune nature of the specific point in time.

a valuable experience

Shifts the focus from time to the experience gained, implying the time was useful for learning or growth.

a constructive phase

Emphasizes the building or developmental aspect of the time, suggesting positive progress.

a fruitful season

Implies a period of abundance or successful outcomes, often associated with harvest or achievement.

a propitious occasion

Highlights the favorable or auspicious nature of the time, suggesting good fortune or opportunity.

a worthwhile duration

Replaces "helpful" with "worthwhile" and "time" with "duration" stresses the significance of the period.

a gainful spell

Highlights the profitable or rewarding character of the period.

a significant juncture

Highlights the time as a turning point or important moment.

FAQs

How can I use "a helpful time" in a sentence?

You can use "a helpful time" to describe a period that facilitated progress or provided assistance. For example, "The training session provided "a helpful time" for understanding the new software".

What are some alternatives to saying "a helpful time"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "a beneficial period", "a productive interval", or "a valuable experience".

Is it more appropriate to say "a helpful time" or "a helpful period"?

Both "a helpful time" and "a helpful period" are grammatically correct, but "period" might sound more formal and suitable for academic or business contexts, while "time" is more general. Consider the specific context when choosing between them.

In what contexts is using "a helpful time" most effective?

Using "a helpful time" is most effective when you want to emphasize that a particular duration was conducive to progress, learning, or problem-solving. Ensure the context clearly demonstrates how and why the time was beneficial.