abundant then

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abundant then" is not commonly used in written English and may be unclear without context.
It could be used in a context where you are discussing a situation that was plentiful or rich at a certain time. Example: "The resources were abundant then, allowing the community to thrive."

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

If we know what stromatolites need to become abundant, then we know what conditions must have existed when they ruled the world.

The Guardian

These groups visited the alpine regions in summer, feasting on the fat bogong moths that are abundant then, much the reverse of current visitors who flock there in winter.

The Guardian - Travel

"They were way more abundant then they had been [in preceding years]," she says.

Science Magazine

If the antenna elements at both the transmitter and the receiver are well separated and scatterers are abundant, then no spatial correlation exists between the different transmit and receive antenna pairs (i.e., independent spatial fading channels).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Moreover, only the HCV strand was analyzed because it has been reported to be significantly more abundant then its counterpart [31], [32].

Plosone

In simple microsatellites, trinucleotide motifs were most abundant, then dinucleotide, hexanucleotide, pentanucleotide, mononucleotide, and tetranucleotide.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It arrived as a wonder of theoretical science and a promise of abundant energy, then segued into a means of creating weapons so terrible that they would presumably be used only once.

The New York Times

Give a mother abundant resources, then, and her body should favour sons.

The Economist

It makes abundant sense, then, for Dawn Approach to remain under the daily watch of such a master as Bolger, rather than some anonymous lieutenant in Newmarket.

Independent

Bears have the ability to gorge and fatten up when food is abundant and then remain inactive for long periods -- and some of us seem almost pre-adapted along those lines.

The New York Times

α-Proteobacteria was the most abundant class, then γ-Proteobacteria and δ-Proteobacteria.

Botanical Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "abundant then" with a more contemporary phrasing like "plentiful at that time" for improved clarity and readability in modern writing.

Common error

Avoid using "abundant then" in contexts where a more modern phrasing would enhance clarity and avoid sounding stilted. While grammatically correct, it can detract from the overall flow and impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abundant then" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, with "abundant" describing the quantity or availability and "then" specifying the temporal context. This usage is supported by Ludwig, indicating acceptable but potentially less common phrasing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "abundant then" is grammatically acceptable but can sound somewhat formal or archaic in modern English. Ludwig's analysis suggests that while understood, it is not the most common phrasing and alternatives like "plentiful at that time" might be clearer and more impactful. The phrase is primarily used in scientific, news, and general writing contexts, and is less common in more formal or encyclopedic sources. Although acceptable as stated by Ludwig, consider more contemporary options for enhanced readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plentiful at that time

Replaces "abundant" with a synonym and uses "at that time" to specify the temporal context, creating a slightly more formal tone.

rich during that period

Substitutes "abundant" with "rich" and "then" with "during that period", altering the nuance to emphasize resource richness over mere quantity.

prevalent in those days

Replaces "abundant" with "prevalent", shifting focus to commonness or widespread existence, and "then" with "in those days", indicating a past era.

common at the time

Uses "common" to mean widespread and "at the time" as a temporal marker, simplifying the original phrase.

numerous back then

Replaces "abundant" with "numerous" to emphasize a large quantity, and "then" with "back then" for a slightly more informal tone.

prolific in that era

Substitutes "abundant" with "prolific", suggesting a high rate of production or reproduction, and "then" with "in that era", adding a historical dimension.

widely available afterwards

Shifts focus from initial abundance to subsequent availability, implying a cause-and-effect relationship.

present in large quantities subsequently

Emphasizes the large quantity and introduces a more formal term, "subsequently", to indicate the sequence.

became widespread afterwards

Highlights the process of becoming common after a certain point, rather than an immediate state of abundance.

followed by a surplus

Implies that an initial event or state was followed by a surplus of something, changing the focus from simultaneous existence to a sequential occurrence.

FAQs

What does "abundant then" mean?

The phrase "abundant then" indicates that something was plentiful or existed in large quantities at a specific time in the past. It suggests that the abundance was characteristic of that particular period.

What can I say instead of "abundant then"?

You can use alternatives like "plentiful at that time", "rich during that period", or "common at the time" depending on the context.

Is "abundant then" grammatically correct?

Yes, "abundant then" is grammatically correct, but it can sound slightly archaic or formal in modern English. It is generally understood but may not be the most common or natural phrasing.

When is it appropriate to use "abundant then"?

It may be appropriate to use "abundant then" in historical contexts, scientific writing, or when trying to create a specific tone. However, for general modern writing, alternatives might be clearer and more impactful.