at advance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at advance" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "in advance"? You can use "in advance" when referring to something that is done ahead of time or before a particular event. Example: "Please let me know your availability in advance so I can schedule the meeting accordingly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Ajay Patel, reached by phone at Advance, which is still operating, declined to comment.

The New York Times

Dean Lundahl, regional managing director at Advance, said the Sarnoff park planned to attract established as well as emerging companies.

The New York Times

Thomas S. Michnewicz, a senior vice president at Advance, said it was refreshing to work with community officials who were receptive and enthusiastic.

The New York Times

"How many commissions have there been?" Yet one thing that he and the proponents at Advance Class can agree on — maybe the only thing — is that this issue demands attention.

The New York Times

Executives at Advance said the paper and its Web site, NOLA.com, would be reconstituted into a new company, the NOLA Media Group, as a way of adapting to the new ways news was being delivered and consumed in an increasingly digital age.

The New York Times

On a recent morning, he is in his sparely decorated office at Advance.net in Jersey City, overlooking Journal Square.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The $21m Hawk or the $16m MiG-AT MiG-AT Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft.

The Guardian

Does City have a reasonable shot at advancing?

The New York Times

The administration's next shot at advancing its economic aims will be Mr. Obama's first budget.

The New York Times

Do they think they have a shot at advancing deep into the tournament?

The New York Times

But in the last two weeks, the House education committee chipped away at advances that commercial colleges had been hoping for.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "in advance" when you mean to do something ahead of time. Using "at advance" is incorrect and can confuse your readers.

Common error

Many writers mistakenly use "at advance" instead of the correct phrase "in advance". This error often stems from not recognizing the established idiom. Always double-check your preposition choice when using "advance" in this context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at advance" functions as a prepositional phrase, but it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "in advance". The existing examples often demonstrate instances where "at" is misused before "advance".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at advance" is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with "in advance". As Ludwig AI clearly states, the correct phrase is "in advance". While the search results return several examples, these instances represent errors, not accepted usage. Proper alternatives include "ahead of time" and "beforehand". It appears most frequently in science and news contexts, though its incorrectness renders it inappropriate for formal writing. Remember to use "in advance" to properly convey the intended meaning of doing something ahead of schedule.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in advance

Corrects the grammatical error by using the proper preposition. Expresses doing something ahead of time.

ahead of time

Similar to "in advance", emphasizing preparation before an event.

beforehand

Indicates preparation or action taken prior to a specific time.

previously

Emphasizes an action that occurred at an earlier time.

at an early stage

Focuses on the initial phase of a process or development.

at the forefront

Suggests being in a leading or advanced position.

in the lead

Similar to "at the forefront", indicating a position of leadership.

at advanced stages

While including the word "advance", this correction clarifies it by adding the word "stages" making it more grammatically correct.

at an advantage

Expresses being in a position with more favorable circumstances.

with foresight

Indicates planning or preparation based on anticipation of future events.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "at advance"?

The correct phrase is "in advance", which means ahead of time or before something happens.

When should I use "in advance"?

Use "in advance" when you want to indicate that something should be done or known before a particular event or time. For example, "Please book your tickets in advance."

Are there any synonyms for "in advance"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "ahead of time" or "beforehand" to convey a similar meaning to "in advance".

Is "at advanced stages" a correct phrase?

While "at advance" is incorrect, "at advanced stages" is grammatically correct. It means at a later or more developed point in a process or condition.