at a later time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a later time" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when referring to a future time, usually one that is unspecified. For example, "We can discuss this further at a later time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

2. Long; comp., at a later time, Prop.

Harvard University

A memorial service will be held at a later time.

The New York Times

To hold and test at a later time?

The New York Times

A memorial service will be announced at a later time.

The New York Times

Memorial services to be announced at a later time.

The New York Times

"They could use it against you at a later time.

The Washington Post

Customers can either join a queue or balk and return at a later time.

Computers & Operations Research

The Ground Problem will be discussed in a companion paper at a later time.

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences

This, however, was at a later time.

University of Chicago

We'll post a proper retrospective at a later time.

TechCrunch

We will be making those decisions at a later time.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at a later time" when you want to indicate that an action or discussion will occur in the future, without specifying exactly when. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "at a later time" is perfectly acceptable, avoid using it excessively in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using alternatives such as "subsequently" or "in the future" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a later time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action will take place. As Ludwig AI explains, it denotes a future point without specifying the exact moment. This is supported by the provided examples showing its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

32%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at a later time" is a versatile and commonly used adverbial phrase that indicates a future, unspecified point. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and functions to defer actions or discussions. It is appropriate for a wide range of contexts, from scientific and academic writing to news articles and general communication. While it appears across various fields, it's most frequently found in Science and News & Media. While perfectly acceptable, avoid overuse and consider varying your language with alternatives like "subsequently" or "in the future".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at a future date

Similar to the original phrase, but emphasizes a specific date will be set.

in the future

A general term indicating any point beyond the present.

subsequently

This term is more formal and implies a direct sequence of events.

at some point

Indicates an unspecified time in the future.

down the line

This phrase is more informal and suggests a less specific future point.

eventually

Suggests that something will happen after some delay.

in due course

This implies that something will happen when the time is right, not necessarily immediately.

further ahead

Implies a point that is relatively distant in the future.

in time

Suggests that something will happen eventually, often implying patience.

in the fullness of time

A more literary and formal way of saying something will happen when the time is right.

FAQs

How can I use "at a later time" in a sentence?

You can use "at a later time" to indicate that something will happen in the future, such as, "We will address your concerns "at a later time"." It implies that the exact time is not specified.

What are some alternatives to "at a later time"?

Alternatives include phrases like "subsequently", "in the future", or "at a future date". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "at a later time" or "later"?

"Later" is more informal and suitable for casual conversation. "At a later time" is slightly more formal and can be used in professional or academic writing when you want to sound more precise, but the two terms are mostly interchangeable.

What's the difference between "at a later time" and "eventually"?

"At a later time" simply indicates something will happen in the future, without implying anything about how far in the future. "Eventually"/s/eventually suggests it will happen after some amount of delay or after certain preconditions are met, which is a much stronger semantic meaning that cannot be used in all contexts.