a night when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a night when" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a specific night during which a particular event or situation occurred. Example: "It was a night when the stars shone brighter than ever before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

WHY THEY CAME They planned this outing a month ago for a night when they all had time off.

The New York Times

A night when Boone became a Yankee.

The New York Times - Sports

It was a night when he was 'going off.'.

The New Yorker

It was a night when something had to give.

The New York Times - Sports

Every entertainer has a night when everything is clicking.

The New York Times - Books

That's a night when the harbor could get full".

The New York Times

It was a night when he was 'going off.'..

The New Yorker

And it was a night when designers like Ms. von Furstenberg were legitimate stars.

The New York Times

This was a night when Newton's teammates lifted their star player.

The New York Times - Sports

On a night when the Yankees tied their largest margin of defeat, nothing else did, either.

The New York Times - Sports

And, sure enough, the hall was packed, even on a night when a major snowstorm threatened.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a night when" to clearly specify a particular night in relation to an event or characteristic. This helps provide context and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Ensure that the "night" you are referring to is clearly defined or understood in the context. Avoid using "a night when" if the specific night is ambiguous or unknown, as this can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a night when" functions as an introductory element to a relative clause, modifying the noun "night". It specifies the time frame in which a particular event or situation occurs. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a night when" is a grammatically sound and widely used construction for introducing relative clauses that provide context about a specific night. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's considered correct and shows up frequently across diverse sources like The New York Times, BBC and The New Yorker. Its communicative purpose is to offer details or highlight events tied to that particular night. While versatile, it is important to ensure the context is well defined. Alternatives like "an evening that" or "a time that" can be used to express a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an evening that

Replaces "night" with "evening" while keeping the relative clause structure.

the evening that

Uses a determiner for "evening" and keeps the relative clause structure.

a time that

Uses a more general term "time" instead of "night", broadening the scope of the reference.

a specific occasion when

Adds emphasis to the specificity of the event.

a particular evening for

Shifts the focus slightly to the purpose or reason for the evening.

a memorable day that

Substitutes "night" with "day" and adds an emotional quality.

a moment where

Replaces "night" with "moment" and "when" with "where", indicating a specific point in time at a certain occasion.

the date on which

Uses a more formal and precise way to indicate the specific date.

an instance when

Replaces night with instance, focusing on the occurrence of something.

a period that

Substitutes 'night' with a more extended duration of 'period'.

FAQs

How can I use "a night when" in a sentence?

Use "a night when" to introduce a clause that provides specific details or context about a particular night. For example, "It was "a night when" the stars shone brighter than ever before".

What are some alternatives to using "a night when"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "an evening that", "a time that", or "a specific occasion when" to express a similar meaning.

Is it ever incorrect to use "a night when"?

While grammatically correct, using "a night when" might be unsuitable if the specific night is irrelevant or unclear to the reader. Ensure the context warrants specifying a particular night.

What's the difference between "a night when" and "a night where"?

"A night when" refers to a time at which something happened (referring to time), while "a night where" would refer to a location in which something happened (referring to space). "A night when" is correct in most contexts. For example, "It was "a night when" everything changed" is correct, while "It was "a night where" everything changed" is incorrect.