an ordinary day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an ordinary day" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a typical or uneventful day in someone's life. Example: "After a long week of work, I was looking forward to just enjoying an ordinary day at home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"It was an ordinary day," says Vera.

The Guardian

It seems like an ordinary day.

The Guardian

In an ordinary day, 2,000 men pass through here.

The New York Times

In China, 25 December is just an ordinary day.

The Guardian - Film

Thursday 14 June had been an ordinary day for Charlotte.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It is the close of an ordinary day".

The Guardian - Books

But Thelma Baer, 68, knew it was not an ordinary day.

The New York Times

Even on an ordinary day there is plenty to do at the Royal Observatory.

The Guardian

It seemed an ordinary day at Google's offices in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The Guardian - Tech

The released messages begin by underlining what an ordinary day it had started out to be.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Never wake up and expect an ordinary day life can always, always, get weirder.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "an ordinary day" to create a sense of normalcy or to emphasize the value of simple, everyday experiences.

Common error

While "an ordinary day" is a useful phrase, avoid using it excessively in your writing. Overuse can make your prose sound repetitive and uninspired. Vary your descriptions to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

Adjective phrase modifying a noun. The phrase "an ordinary day" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing the noun "day". It serves to characterize the day as typical, routine, and unremarkable. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an ordinary day" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a typical, unremarkable day. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. It's commonly found in News & Media, often used to contrast with unexpected events. For variety, consider alternatives like "a typical day" or "a usual day". Avoid overuse to maintain reader engagement. "An ordinary day" serves as a useful tool to establish normalcy before introducing a contrasting element.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a typical day

Replaces "ordinary" with "typical", emphasizing the commonness of the day.

a usual day

Substitutes "ordinary" with "usual", highlighting the routine aspect of the day.

a normal day

Replaces "ordinary" with "normal", stressing the lack of unusual events.

an average day

Changes "ordinary" to "average", focusing on the day being representative of a standard.

a commonplace day

Uses "commonplace" instead of "ordinary", suggesting the day is unremarkable and widely experienced.

a routine day

Replaces "ordinary" with "routine", highlighting the repetitive nature of the day.

an uneventful day

Focuses on the absence of significant events.

a regular day

Similar to "typical day", but slightly more formal.

a workaday day

Implies a day filled with common work or tasks.

a garden-variety day

Highlights the plainness and lack of distinction of the day.

FAQs

What does "an ordinary day" mean?

The phrase "an ordinary day" describes a typical, uneventful day without anything particularly noteworthy happening. It's a day that follows a regular routine or pattern.

What can I say instead of "an ordinary day"?

You can use alternatives like "a typical day", "a usual day", or "a normal day" to convey a similar meaning.

How can I use "an ordinary day" in a sentence?

You can use "an ordinary day" to set the scene before an unexpected event occurs. For example: "It started as "an ordinary day", but everything changed when I received the phone call."

Is it correct to say "a ordinary day" instead of "an ordinary day"?

No, it is incorrect. Because "ordinary" begins with a vowel sound, the correct article to use is "an", not "a". So, the correct phrase is "an ordinary day".