at a random day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a random day" is not correct in standard English; it should be "on a random day." You can use it when referring to an unspecified day that is chosen without any particular reason or pattern.
Example: "We decided to go for a picnic on a random day when the weather was nice."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Urine-opiate tests were performed at a random day each month.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I had a look at Instagram on a random Monday at 5 30pm, just as the Museum of Modern Art in New York closed for the day.

BBC

As an example, you're at work on a random Tuesday afternoon.

WikiHow

At any hour on any day, the lights are on — meaning that at 2 A.M. on a random Saturday in April, you are likely to find an odd community of insomniacs, loners, and stoned teen-agers with nowhere else to go, all wandering the aisles, poking at fishing rods, hiking packs, and wool sweaters.

The New Yorker

At any hour on any day, the lights are on meaning that at 2 A.M. on a random Saturday in April, you are likely to find an odd community of insomniacs, loners, and stoned teen-agers with nowhere else to go, all wandering the aisles, poking at fishing rods, hiking packs, and wool sweaters.

The New Yorker

And this event leaned on absolutely none of their qualities other than their presence at an event on a random Saturday in 2015 people could pay to attend.

Vice

It hasn't happened yet in the concert hall — for me, the sublime is attained on a random Tuesday, at a sparsely-attended evensong somewhere, with an Orlando Gibbons verse anthem being sung almost perfectly.

The Guardian - Music

"If our kids don't fall, they don't learn to get up". My words hung in the air, as I stood next to my friend on a random Tuesday at the park.

HuffPost

For each of the 3 data sets, for each case, as defined by the number of training years, 1000 outbreaks were simulated, with each outbreak having random (uniform) duration of 1 to 20 days, beginning at a random (uniform) day (from 1 to the number of days (365 or 366) in the test year), and shaped like a lognormal distribution with a rapid rise and slow decline in counts.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

In Experiment 2, 280 cyclic heifers were synchronized using the same experimental design described above (PGF2α; n = 143 and Control; n = 137), at random day of the estrous cycle.

Animal Reproduction Science

For example, at one point, another random day turns into a battle in a washroom.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a day that is chosen without any specific pattern or reason, use the preposition 'on' instead of 'at'. For example, it is more grammatically sound to say 'I will visit on a random day' rather than 'at a random day'.

Common error

Avoid using the preposition 'at' when referring to specific days or dates. The correct preposition to use is 'on'. Saying "I'll see you at a random day" is incorrect. Instead, use "I'll see you on a random day".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a random day" functions as an adverbial phrase, intending to modify a verb by specifying when an action occurs. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the preposition is not correct, as it should be 'on' rather than 'at'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at a random day" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "on a random day". As Ludwig AI shows, while examples of the phrase exist, the proper preposition should be 'on' when referring to an unspecified day. This corrected phrase serves to indicate that an event will occur on an arbitrary day, without specifying which day it will be. Although occurrences are rare, and its distribution spans News, Science and Wiki. Remember to use "on a random day" in your writing to ensure grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a random day

Replaces 'at' with 'on', which is the grammatically correct preposition in this context.

on a day chosen at random

Adds the action of choosing, emphasizing the randomness of the day selection.

on a day selected randomly

Rephrases using 'selected randomly' to emphasize the selection process.

on any given day

Emphasizes that the specific day is not predetermined or special.

on an arbitrary day

Replaces 'random' with 'arbitrary', indicating a choice made without any specific reason.

on a chance day

Uses 'chance' to convey the randomness of the day.

on a particular day

Refers to a single, unspecified day without implying randomness.

on an incidental day

Uses 'incidental' to suggest the day is of no particular importance.

on some random date

Substitutes 'day' with 'date', adding a slight emphasis on the calendar aspect.

at some unspecified point in time

Broadens the scope from a specific day to a more general timeframe.

FAQs

What is the correct preposition to use with 'a random day'?

The correct preposition is 'on'. Use "on a random day" instead of "at a random day". For example, "The test will be administered "on a random day" next week".

What can I say instead of "at a random day"?

Alternatives include phrases like "on a chance day", "on an arbitrary day", or simply ""on a random day"" with the correct preposition.

Is "at a random day" grammatically correct?

No, "at a random day" is not grammatically correct. The correct usage is ""on a random day"". The preposition 'on' should be used when referring to days.

Which is the difference between 'at a random day' and 'on a random day'?

'At a random day' is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is '"on a random day"'. Using 'on' aligns with standard English grammar rules for specifying days.