at a certain spot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a certain spot" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific location or position, often in a more vague or general sense. Example: "The treasure was buried at a certain spot on the map, marked by an X."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

A local woman was chased by a witch at a certain spot.

The New Yorker

He was to be at a certain spot at 4 15.

The New Yorker

"When people got off the train at a certain spot, you sort of know where they're going".

The New York Times

You may be familiar with Street View, a Google exclusive that lets you stand at a certain spot on the map and "look around".

The New York Times

The stunt was at least partly staged, as some of the passengers had been recruited in advance and told to wait at a certain spot for Mr. Stoltenberg.

The New York Times

Her car, they reasoned, would park at a certain spot, and they knew the queen would emerge from the left side, as she typically does.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Todd mentions that one of his testers designed a domicile that played tones and music when the player stepped on a certain spot at the building.

Vice

When the ball comes, you've got to hit it and perhaps your video analysis determined it was better to return serve to a certain spot, but if at that moment you really feel you want to put it somewhere else, you still need to listen to that.

The New York Times - Sports

sees a certain spot, while the house at 1315 Mockingbird Lane or 5135 Kensington Ave .is shown something different.

The New York Times

The writer, an Italian, recalls with affection a certain spot in Italy.

The New Yorker

All water content tends to decrease when it passes a certain spot.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at a certain spot" when you want to indicate a specific location without being overly precise. It is useful when the exact location is either not known or not important to specify.

Common error

Avoid using "at a certain spot" excessively in technical or scientific writing where precision is crucial. If the exact location matters, provide specific coordinates or landmarks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a certain spot" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating a location. Ludwig examples show it specifying where an action takes place, like waiting or burying something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

29%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at a certain spot" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that functions as an adverbial phrase to indicate a location in a somewhat vague manner. According to Ludwig, it appears frequently in news and media sources and its register can be considered as neutral. When precision is crucial, consider swapping out "at a certain spot" with more specific alternatives, like "in a precise location" or "at a defined position".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a particular location

Replaces "spot" with "location" and "certain" with "particular", offering a slightly more formal tone.

at a specific point

Substitutes "spot" with "point", focusing on a precise location.

in a designated area

Uses "area" instead of "spot", suggesting a broader, defined region.

at a given place

Replaces "certain" with "given", implying a predetermined location.

in a marked location

Suggests the location is indicated or labeled in some way.

at a defined position

Emphasizes the spatial arrangement or coordinates of the location.

in an exact place

Highlights the precision of the location.

at a known location

Suggests the speaker and the listener know about the location.

in a selected position

Replaces "spot" with position, implying that location has been chosen

at a precise locale

A more formal alternative, using "locale" to denote a place.

FAQs

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

You can use "at a certain spot" to refer to a location without being specific. For instance, "The treasure is buried "at a certain spot" near the old oak tree."

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

"At a certain spot" is less formal and can imply vagueness, while "in a specific location"/s/in+a+specific+location is more precise and emphasizes that the location is clearly defined.

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

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "in a particular location", "at a specific point", or "in a designated area".

Is "at a certain spot" too vague for formal writing?

While usable, "at a certain spot" might be too informal for highly formal or technical writing. In such cases, consider using more precise alternatives like "in a precise location" or "at a defined position".