at a dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an event or gathering that takes place during a meal, typically in a social or formal setting. Example: "We discussed the project details at a dinner hosted by the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You're at a dinner party.

The New York Times

At a dinner at a N.A.T.O.

The New Yorker

They were at a dinner party.

The New Yorker

I met her at a dinner party.

Independent

"At a dinner party".

The New York Times

"We met at a dinner.

The Guardian - Books

She met him at a dinner party.

The Guardian - Arts

She met Ernst at a dinner party.

The Guardian - Arts

He said: "Yes, once, at a dinner.

The Guardian - Books

Imagine you are at a dinner meeting.

The New York Times

What to say at a dinner party?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at a dinner", ensure the context clearly indicates the dinner is the setting for an event, conversation, or meeting. For example, "Important decisions were made at a dinner with stakeholders".

Common error

Avoid using "at a dinner" as the subject of a sentence. Instead of "At a dinner, the atmosphere was tense", rephrase to "The atmosphere was tense at the dinner".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a dinner" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the location or setting of an action or event. It provides context about where something occurred, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples like "I met her at a dinner party".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at a dinner" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that specifies the location of an event or action. As shown by Ludwig, it's frequently found in news and media sources, and while versatile, should be used carefully to avoid misplacement as a sentence subject. Remember to consider context; while the phrase itself is neutral, the overall formality depends on the surrounding content. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and provides numerous examples for effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over dinner

Indicates an activity or discussion occurring during the meal.

while having dinner

Describes an action that happens in parallel with having dinner.

during a dinner party

Emphasizes the social event taking place while eating.

at the dinner table

Specifies the location where the dinner is taking place.

while dining

Focuses on the action of eating in a more formal setting.

at the meal

A simpler way to refer to the location of events happening during dinner.

at a supper

Uses an alternative term for a similar evening meal.

at dinnertime

Focuses on the time when dinner is usually eaten.

during the feast

Suggests a larger, more elaborate meal.

at a banquet

Refers to a formal celebratory dinner.

FAQs

How can I use "at a dinner" in a sentence?

Use "at a dinner" to specify the location or setting where an event takes place, such as "I met him "at a dinner party"" or "The announcement was made "at a dinner" hosted by the CEO".

What's the difference between "at dinner" and "at a dinner"?

"At dinner" refers to a general time or occasion, while "at a dinner" refers to a specific instance or event. For example, "We usually discuss our day "at dinner"", versus "I met the president "at a dinner" last night".

Is "during a dinner" a good alternative to "at a dinner"?

Yes, "during a dinner" can be a suitable alternative, especially when emphasizing an action or event that occurs concurrently with the meal. Both ""at a dinner"" and "during a dinner" are correct, but the choice depends on the specific context and emphasis you want to convey.

What can I say instead of "at a dinner party"?

You can use alternatives like "over dinner", "during the dinner", or "while dining" depending on the context.