about midday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about midday" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time that is approximately around noon. Example: "We should meet at the café about midday to discuss our plans for the weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'll get Pavel to pick you up about midday.

The New Yorker

"They got back to me at about midday.

The Guardian

Medical staff pronounced him dead at about midday.

The Guardian

He was the first person to call, at about midday.

The Guardian

When the disruption began about midday, the Nasdaq was down about 13 points.

The New York Times

A second rally is expected to be held about midday on Sunday.

The Guardian

About midday, Mr. Johnson would have been taken to Huntsville to await a lethal injection.

The New York Times

Yes, by about midday, some shops were experiencing queues, but of the wrong sort: orderly, well disciplined.

Independent

At about midday, Ragai said, he got a call from one of the other fighters on his cellphone.

The New York Times - Magazine

Georgia was first seen by Miss Perfect at about midday on August 4, 2009 following a 999 call.

Independent

I'm more of a night person: I go to bed around 3am and get up about midday.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling events, use "about midday" to indicate a flexible timeframe around 12:00 pm, accommodating slight variations in schedules.

Common error

Avoid using "about midday" when a precise time is required. If the meeting starts at exactly 12:00 pm, state the exact time instead of using an approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about midday" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating the time at which an action occurs. It specifies when something happens, similar to how adverbs of time function. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about midday" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a time approximately around noon. Ludwig AI confirms its versatile usage across various contexts, predominantly in news and media. When precision is needed, it's advisable to provide an exact time. For general scheduling and descriptions, "about midday" offers a flexible and widely understood time reference. Alternatives such as "around noon" can be used to express similar meanings. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for both casual and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around noon

Replaces "midday" with "noon", a more common synonym.

approximately noon

Adds "approximately" for a slightly more formal tone.

around 12 pm

Specifies the time using the 12-hour clock format.

near lunchtime

Focuses on the association with lunch, shifting the emphasis slightly.

close to 12:00

More precise specification of time, using digital clock notation.

towards noon

Indicates a time approaching noon, rather than precisely at noon.

middayish

Informal, uses a suffix to indicate approximation.

at noon more or less

Uses "more or less" to convey approximation with less formal style.

give or take noon

Idiomatic expression for approximation.

in the middle of the day

More descriptive, avoids specific time references.

FAQs

What does "about midday" mean?

The phrase "about midday" means approximately noon, or around 12:00 pm. It indicates a time that is close to the middle of the day but not necessarily exact.

How accurate is "about midday" as a time reference?

"About midday" implies a general timeframe rather than a precise moment. It suggests a time within approximately an hour of noon.

What can I say instead of "about midday"?

You can use alternatives like "around noon", "approximately noon", or "near lunchtime" depending on the context.

Is "about midday" formal or informal?

"About midday" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in both casual and professional contexts.