an average date

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an average date" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a date that is typical or standard, often in the context of social or romantic outings. Example: "For our anniversary, we decided to do something special instead of going for an average date at the local diner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Crossing the data from the various tests, we arrived at an average date" to the time of Christ's death, plus or minus 250 years, said Mr. Fanti, whose findings were published this month in the book "Il Mistero della Sindone" ("The Mystery of the Shroud"), which he co-wrote.

The New York Times

The former yields an average date of 3520 (±540) BC and the latter an average date of 3400 (±200) years BC, both of which, within overlapping errors, suggest the main settlement occurred during the Final Neolithic.

Journal of Archaeological Science

Ackerman Lake yielded multiple radiocarbon dates, including an average date of 8,811 ± 11 14C yr BP (9,736 9,913 cal yr BP) at a change in stratigraphy from red clay to gray silt.

Journal of Great Lakes Research

What's also not shocking is the buzz that this encounter was just an average date.

Huffington Post

"An average date," he called it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In Oceanians, the average size of Denisovan fragments is larger than Neanderthal fragments, implying a more recent average date of Denisovan admixture in the history of these populations (p = 0.00004).

Current Biology

The first seeds go into the ground about a week before the average date of the last killing frost, in the middle of May in the Hudson Valley, where I live, or when emerging oak leaves are about the size of mouse ears (conventional garden wisdom that I do follow) anywhere.

The New York Times

On most lakes, the timing of the final clearing of ice is remarkably uniform from year to year, usually varying by less than a week from the long-term average date of clearing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This was over a month earlier than the 1966 2009 average date of the first named storm, July 9.

Wikipedia

A recovered bell was dated 1705, and the average date of 25 recoverable artifacts was 1706.

The New York Times

With the system impacting land on June 19, it marked the earliest date that a tropical cyclone had impacted the state, with the average date of first impact being August 15.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a date, use "an average date" to convey it was typical and uneventful, neither particularly good nor bad. This sets a baseline for comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "an average date" when you actually mean the date was enjoyable or special. This phrase implies mediocrity, not satisfaction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an average date" functions as a noun phrase, where "average" modifies the noun "date". It describes a dating experience that is typical or standard, aligning with the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an average date" is a phrase used to describe a typical or unremarkable dating experience. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and can be found in various sources, most frequently in news and media. When writing, use this phrase to indicate a date that was neither particularly good nor bad. Remember to avoid overusing it in positive contexts, as it implies mediocrity. Consider alternatives like "a typical date" or "a standard date" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a typical date

Replaces "average" with "typical", emphasizing the commonness of the date.

a standard date

Uses "standard" instead of "average" to convey a baseline or normal date.

a normal date

Substitutes "average" with "normal", highlighting the lack of unusual elements.

an ordinary date

Employs "ordinary" in place of "average", stressing the unremarkable nature of the date.

a run-of-the-mill date

Replaces "average" with the idiom "run-of-the-mill", intensifying the sense of ordinariness.

a commonplace date

Uses "commonplace" to underscore how frequently such dates occur.

an everyday date

Highlights the mundane quality of the date by using "everyday".

a garden-variety date

Replaces "average" with "garden-variety", indicating something very common and unexceptional.

a workaday date

Uses "workaday" to suggest the routine and unexciting nature of the date.

an unremarkable date

Directly states the date's lack of distinguishing features.

FAQs

How can I use "an average date" in a sentence?

You might say, "We just went for "an average date" to the movies; nothing special happened".

What's a less common way to say "an average date"?

Consider using phrases like "a typical date" or "a standard date" to convey the same meaning.

Is it better to say "an average date" or "a normal date"?

Both ""an average date"" and "a normal date" are acceptable, but "an average date" might slightly emphasize statistical typicality, while "a normal date" emphasizes lack of deviation from the expected.

What does "an average date" imply about the experience?

It suggests the experience was neither particularly good nor bad, just typical or unremarkable. It implies a lack of strong positive or negative attributes.