around the same time

USAGE SUMMARY

"around the same time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to events that happened simultaneously or relatively close together in time. For example, "We both began our journey around the same time, but we ended up in different places."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Around the same time, U.A.E.

The New York Times

Around the same time (Oct.

The New York Times

His parents died around the same time.

The New York Times

Around the same time, I discovered Wattpad.

The Guardian

Mansour was released around the same time.

The New York Times - Magazine

U2 played there around the same time.

The Guardian - Music

"Roughly around the same time as Katrina".

The New York Times

Around the same time the orchestra had other difficulties.

The New York Times

Around the same time, he met Mr. Alessa.

The New York Times

The other businesses departed around the same time.

The New York Times

Around the same time, Twitter was placed under new management.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "around the same time" to indicate that events happened close together, but not necessarily at the exact same moment. This adds nuance compared to saying "at the same time."

Common error

Vary your language. Using "around the same time" repeatedly in adjacent sentences can make your writing sound monotonous. Opt for synonyms like "simultaneously" or restructure sentences to avoid repetition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around the same time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate when an action or event occurred. As Ludwig confirms, it's a grammatically sound and widely used expression. It specifies the temporal context of an event in relation to another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

18%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "around the same time" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that two or more events occurred in temporal proximity. As indicated by Ludwig, its usage is generally accepted and common across various contexts, especially in news and media. While it is suitable for most writing scenarios, it's important to consider the formality of the context and opt for more precise terms like "simultaneously" or "concurrently" in highly formal settings. Remember to avoid overuse in consecutive sentences and vary your language to maintain engaging and effective communication. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its wide applicability and confirm its reliability as a descriptive element in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at approximately the same time

Highlights that the timing is not exact but close.

simultaneously

Indicates events happening at the exact same moment.

nearly simultaneously

Events occurring almost, but not exactly, at the same moment.

concurrently

Suggests that events are happening at the same time and are related.

at the same moment

Emphasizes the precise alignment of events in time.

in the same period

Refers to a broader time frame during which events occurred.

contemporaneously

Events that happened during the same historical period.

in close succession

Suggests that events followed each other quickly.

in parallel

Events that unfold at the same time and are often related.

in rapid sequence

Implies a quick series of events happening one after another.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "around the same time" to improve my writing?

Consider using phrases such as "simultaneously", "concurrently", or "at approximately the same time" for variety and precision.

Is "around the same time" too informal for academic writing?

While generally acceptable, in highly formal academic contexts, more precise terms like "concurrently" or "contemporaneously" might be preferred. However, "around the same time" remains suitable for most academic papers.

What's the difference between "at the same time" and "around the same time"?

"At the same time" implies events occurring precisely together, whereas "around the same time" suggests events happening close together, but not necessarily simultaneously. The latter provides a degree of flexibility in temporal precision.

Can "around the same time" be used to describe events in the distant past?

Yes, "around the same time" can describe events in any time period, past, present, or future, as long as the events occurred relatively close together. For instance, "The dinosaurs went extinct around the same time as a major asteroid impact."