a vague time

USAGE SUMMARY

"a vague time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when talking or writing about a point in time that is uncertain or unspecified. For example, "We agreed to meet sometime around a vague time next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A vague time frame?

The New York Times

The urgency that brought those owners and the now-defunct National Basketball Players Association within a few minor system considerations of a deal is now gone, and in its place is a vague time line formed by a drop-dead date for cancellation of the entire season (likely in early January), a relatively slow-moving legal process, and the owners' whims.

The New York Times

The great bulk of the movie industry's evocations of the American past have been Westerns — that is, escapist adventure stories set in a vague time more or less identifiable as the eighteen-seventies or eighties, a vague semi-desert or mountainous region somewhere between the Mississippi and the Rockies, and a vague economy based on cattle-raising, saloon-keeping, and banditry.

The New Yorker

He says, "There was a vague time—I lived in Far East Russia, wandering, sleeping in a boat there I [eventually] met a Dingo dog.

Vice

Timing of stool volume examination: separating studies in which continuous outcomes were monitored in exact time intervals of six or eight hours versus those with a vague time definition.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The Bush administration has repeatedly rejected a timetable for withdrawing troops, agreeing only to a more vague "time frame".

The Guardian

This paper presents a framework for reasoning about qualitative and metric temporal relations between vague time periods.

Artificial Intelligence

I'd be visiting her at some vague time in the future, deliberately vague, for people like me, who realign past events to suit themselves.

The New Yorker

The newest version, "Grand Theft Auto IV," was originally due to publish in October, but has since been delayed until some vague time between February and April 2008.

Forbes

Sleep covers her like a warm blanket, urging her back into the swell of blackness she has inhabited ever since Karen brought her here in the middle of the night some vague time ago.

Huffington Post

Maliki offered up the following timetable for withdrawal: combat troops out by October, 2010, and all troops out some vague time in 2013 (no date in 2013 was ever reported).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a vague time", provide additional context if precision is needed later. You can start with the vague reference and then offer more specific details as they become available.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "a vague time" when specific details are eventually necessary. If the situation demands clarity, transition from the initial vagueness to more concrete information as soon as possible. Otherwise, your communication might seem evasive or uncertain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a vague time" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "time". It serves to qualify the noun by indicating that the specific time is not clearly defined or known. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a vague time" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate an unspecified or uncertain point in time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts but appears more frequently in News & Media and Science domains. While versatile, remember to provide context or more specific details when precision is needed, avoiding over-reliance on the phrase without clarification. Related phrases like "an indefinite period" or "an approximate timeframe" can offer alternative ways to express similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an indefinite period

Replaces 'vague' with 'indefinite' to emphasize the lack of specific boundaries.

an unspecified duration

Focuses on the duration aspect, highlighting that the length of time is not stated.

an approximate timeframe

Uses 'approximate' to suggest an estimation rather than precision.

an ill-defined moment

Emphasizes the lack of clarity in pinpointing the exact moment.

an uncertain interval

Highlights the uncertainty and lack of clear definition for the interval.

a loose timeframe

Uses "loose" to mean inexact or not strict.

an unspecific time

Directly replaces vague with unspecific.

a rough estimate of time

Adds the aspect of estimation and approximation to the temporal reference.

a general period

Replaces vague with the more general term "general".

a flexible timeline

Indicates a timeline that is not rigid or strictly defined.

FAQs

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

You can use "a vague time" to refer to an unspecified period, as in, "I expect to hear back from them at "a vague time" next week".

What can I say instead of "a vague time"?

Alternatives include "an indefinite period", "an unspecified duration", or "an approximate timeframe", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a vague time" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, using "a vague time" in formal writing might be perceived as unprofessional if precision is expected. Consider using more specific language or providing an explanation for the lack of specificity.

What's the difference between "a vague time" and "an estimated time"?

"A vague time" indicates a lack of clarity or precision, while "an estimated time" implies an attempt to approximate the time, even if it's not exact. An estimated time carries a sense of prediction, whereas "a vague time" suggests more uncertainty.