at a certain location

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a certain location" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific place without naming it directly, often in contexts involving directions, events, or descriptions. Example: "The meeting will take place at a certain location that will be disclosed later."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In [74], the authors consider contracts as labelled transition systems over located action names, representing operations at a certain location over a network.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

If a large number of players are being killed at a certain location, the game designers must ask themselves why, and decide whether to correct for this.

The New Yorker

Members typically receive written instructions, passed by messengers, which tell them to be at a certain location at a set time.

The Guardian

Given the brief to create an app that allows someone to check-in at a certain location, the one man in a group of 16 women created a "revision study" app for his children to log when they were working.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"The most effective ones will be the input mechanisms where you aren't interacting directly, so your heart rate reaches a certain beat or you arrive at a certain location or it's a certain time.

The Guardian - Tech

"The more check-ins are made at a certain location, the more visible are corruption hotspots on the map," the site says, and the more likely those in charge of a particular institution are to take heed.

The New York Times

In image processing, we may identify the concentration with the grey value at a certain location.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

MDS is based on FHR event which happens at a certain location.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

However, many predictions are investigated at a certain location or over a regional area.

Earth, Planets and Space

Each visit is evoked by one's motivation to engage in some kind of activity at a certain location.

Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory

Mary's utterance has an agent in \(w\), namely Mary, and it occurs at a certain location and time in \(w\).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at a certain location" when you want to refer to a specific place without revealing its exact identity or when the specific location is not important to the context. This allows for generality or maintaining privacy.

Common error

Avoid using "at a certain location" excessively in writing, as it can make your text unnecessarily vague. If the location is relevant, consider providing more specific details to enhance clarity and engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a certain location" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause by specifying the place where an action occurs or a condition exists. Ludwig examples show its usage in academic, scientific, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at a certain location" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to denote a place without being overly specific. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and very common across different domains, particularly in science and news. When writing, it's best to use "at a certain location" when the exact place isn't crucial or when maintaining generality is desired. Alternatives such as "in a specific spot" or "at a particular place" can be used for slight variations in emphasis. Be mindful of overusing vague language; if the specific location is relevant, providing more details is preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at a particular place

This phrase substitutes "certain" with "particular", highlighting the distinctiveness of the location.

in a specific spot

This alternative replaces "certain location" with "specific spot", emphasizing a particular point within an area.

at a given point

This option uses "given point" instead of "certain location", referring to a specific coordinate or position.

on a specific site

Here, "site" replaces "location", suggesting a more formal or technical context.

in a definite area

This alternative uses "definite area" to convey the idea of a clearly defined region.

at a precise locale

This version replaces both "certain" and "location" with "precise locale", which sounds more formal and exact.

in a designated space

This alternative uses "designated space" to indicate an area that has been assigned for a specific purpose.

at an unspecified place

This phrase directly conveys that the location is not being explicitly stated.

at a known spot

This alternative suggests that the location is known but not being disclosed.

at a secret location

This option emphasizes the hidden or confidential nature of the location.

FAQs

How can I use "at a certain location" in a sentence?

Use "at a certain location" when you want to refer to a place without being specific. For example, "The event will be held "at a certain location" in the city center".

What are some alternatives to "at a certain location"?

You can use alternatives like "in a specific spot", "at a particular place", or "in a definite area" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "at a certain location" instead of naming the place?

It's appropriate when the exact location is not important, when you want to maintain privacy, or when the location will be revealed later. For instance, "More details about the meeting "at a certain location" will be sent to registered attendees".

What's the difference between "at a certain location" and "at a specific location"?

"At a specific location" implies a more precise and known place, while ""at a certain location"" suggests that the place is known but not being explicitly identified, or that its exact details are not relevant.