as of midnight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as of midnight" is correct and may be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate when something happens, or when something changes, and is used as a more specific time frame than "at midnight" or "after midnight". For example, you could say, "As of midnight, the curfew will be in effect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

As of midnight, it was still unclaimed.

The New York Times

As of midnight, the group was still in place.

The New York Times

As of midnight on Wednesday, the gunman remained on the loose.

The New York Times

As of midnight Sunday, a total of 27,700 barrels of oil had been collected.

The New York Times

As of midnight, he had 332 delegates to Mr. Santorum's 139.

The New York Times

The circumstances of each of the crashes were still under investigation as of midnight on Thursday.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

As of midnight, the Egyptian government reinstated daylight saving time "as a way to help reduce electricity consumption".

Huffington Post

As of this morning, that is changing.

The New Yorker

As of last night, there was none.

The New York Times

As of this morning, the website appeared to be offline.

Independent

As of last night, police had made no arrests.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as of midnight", ensure the context clearly indicates the time zone being referenced, especially when communicating across different regions.

Common error

Avoid using "as of midnight" if the intended meaning is 'shortly after midnight'. It precisely indicates the transition from one day to the next, not the hours following it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as of midnight" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It specifies the exact time when a particular action, event, or condition becomes effective. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as of midnight" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to indicate a specific point in time when a change, event, or condition takes effect. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's particularly useful for setting precise deadlines or start times, especially in contexts like news reporting and formal announcements. While versatile, it's crucial to specify the time zone and avoid using it if 'shortly after midnight' is intended. Alternatives like "by midnight" or "at the stroke of midnight" can be used depending on the context and desired level of formality. The examples from Ludwig showcase its broad applicability in setting clear temporal boundaries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

By 12 am

Uses a more common abbreviation and omits "of", creating a slightly less formal tone.

No later than midnight

Emphasizes the deadline aspect, specifying that something must occur before or at midnight.

Midnight tonight

More direct and less formal, suitable for casual contexts.

At the stroke of midnight

More figurative and dramatic, emphasizing the exact moment.

Upon the arrival of midnight

More formal and literary, suitable for descriptive writing.

By the end of the day

More general, indicating the deadline is the end of the day rather than the specific time.

By 00:00 hours

A more technical and precise way of indicating midnight.

At 24:00 hours

Another technical, though less conventional, way to denote midnight.

Following midnight

Similar to "subsequent to midnight", emphasizing the period after midnight.

Subsequent to midnight

Focuses on what happens after midnight rather than the moment itself.

FAQs

How is "as of midnight" used in a sentence?

The phrase "as of midnight" typically introduces a change or a state of affairs effective at the precise moment of midnight. For instance, "As of midnight, the new regulations will be enforced."

What's a formal alternative to "as of midnight"?

A more formal alternative could be "effective at 00:00 hours" or "commencing at midnight". These are often used in legal or official documents.

What can I say instead of "as of midnight" in a less formal context?

In less formal situations, you can use phrases like "by midnight" or "at the end of the day". For instance, instead of "As of midnight, the sale ends", you can say "The sale ends "by midnight"".

Is there a difference between "at midnight" and "as of midnight"?

"At midnight" refers to a specific point in time, while "as of midnight" indicates a transition or the beginning of a new state at that time. For example, "The ball drops at midnight", but "As of midnight, a new day begins".