around the time when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "around the time when" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about a specific time or period. For example, "We met around the time when the new year began."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then, we release provisional awards to all returning students simultaneously in July (around the time when fall semester charges are billed).

Harvard University

This was around the time when the company was cutting ten per cent of its workforce.

The New Yorker

It expires in 2018, around the time when Mr Brown is expected to leave office.

The Economist

And that's just around the time when external grades and rewards become more important.

Harvard Business Review

This was around the time when composing became part of the curriculum.

The Guardian - Music

They had a fuller discussion in 2013 2014 — around the time when media reports of the illicit behavior first surfaced.

Harvard Business Review

In south Texas, though, the wind blows strongly in the afternoon, around the time when demand peaks.

The Guardian

But I do think we need to do more around the time when people are deciding to have children.

The Guardian

That was in the summer of 1997, around the time when it became legal for gay couples to adopt.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That was around the time when I was starting to get the momentum a bit back on my side.

The Guardian - Sport

Around the time when some filmmakers who overtly embrace a classicist agenda became, by that fact, boring.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "around the time when" to provide context to an event by relating it to a specific moment or period, making it easier for the reader to understand the temporal relationship. For example, "The company was founded around the time when the internet became widely accessible."

Common error

Be careful not to use "around the time when" when a simpler preposition like "during" or "about" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound verbose. For instance, instead of "The project started around the time when the funding was secured", consider "The project started when the funding was secured."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around the time when" functions as a temporal adjunct, modifying a clause by specifying when an event took place. This phrase establishes a temporal relationship, indicating that an event happened near to a specified time. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "around the time when" is a versatile temporal adjunct used to provide context by linking events to a particular moment or period. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. While highly frequent in news, academic, and scientific contexts, it is important to avoid redundancy and consider simpler alternatives like "when" or "during" when appropriate. The phrase strikes a neutral register, making it suitable for diverse writing scenarios. Leverage this phrase to enhance clarity and temporal understanding in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at about the point that

Indicates an approximate time, simplifying the phrase.

at approximately the same time that

More formal and precise, emphasizing simultaneity.

close to the moment when

Underscores the temporal closeness to a specific instant.

in the vicinity of when

Emphasizes nearness in time in a slightly more literary way.

near the period of

Refers to a longer span of time instead of a specific point.

in proximity to when

A more formal way to indicate that something occurred shortly before or after a particular moment.

concurrently with when

Highlights that events happen together or overlap.

at that stage when

Suggests the time is part of a process or progression.

during the era when

Frames the time within a broader historical or cultural context.

while

This is more concise and implies that the events happen at the same time.

FAQs

How can I use "around the time when" in a sentence?

You can use "around the time when" to specify that an event occurred close to a particular moment or period. For example, "The company started experiencing rapid growth around the time when they launched their new product."

What phrases are similar to "around the time when"?

Alternatives include "at about the point that", "close to the moment when", or simply using "when" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "around the time when", or are there more concise alternatives?

In many cases, you can replace "around the time when" with a simpler word like "when", "during", or "about" for more concise writing. Choose the option that best fits the context and maintains clarity.

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

"Around the time when" implies an approximate timeframe, while "at the exact time when" indicates a precise moment. Use "around the time when" when you want to indicate the event occurred close to a specific moment, not necessarily precisely at that moment.