at an unknown time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at an unknown time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an event or action that occurs without a specified time frame. Example: "The artifact was discovered at an unknown time, leaving historians puzzled about its origins."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

A Kind Man is the story of a couple, Eve and Tommy, who live in an unnamed town, at an unknown time, not long ago.

The Guardian - Books

The basic technique, originated at an unknown time, was apparently practiced widely in Southeast Asia with local variations, as in Celebes Island, where the wax was applied with bamboo strips.

Britannica

I need to tell the caterer our final numbers soon, and we have to finalize a seating chart for dinner, but how do I go about it with the possibility of having guests arrive at an unknown time?

The New York Times

A test of the joint null hypothesis of parameter stability and a unit root within an ADF style autoregressive specification whose entire parameter structure is potentially subject to a structural break at an unknown time period is developed.

Computational Statistics & Data Analysis

Moreover, the attack happens at an unknown time.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Within trange, the crime actually occurred at an unknown time, tactual.

Crime Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Samples analyzed in the studies by Li et al. [ 3] and Mathelin et al. [ 2] were stored at -80°C and -20°C, respectively for an unknown time.

BMC Medical Genomics

Comparison of the proportion of stage IV patients in EMR and SEER data suggests that EMR patients have later stage cancer when appearing for care than the patients in SEER; however, this may be due to the fact that the stage is recorded at diagnosis in SEER and at a potentially unknown time period in disease progression for the EMR.

Clinical Epidemiology

Suppose that probability of obtaining delayed rewards decreases at an unknown single time-constant rate (a single interruption rate model).

Behavioral and Brain Functions

In any case, many people who are willing to believe that their severed head can be reanimated and attached to a new body at some unknown time in the distant future are not ones to fret about costs.

The New York Times

Camels probably acquired MERS-CoV at some unknown time.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at an unknown time", ensure the lack of specific timing is relevant to the context. This phrase is most effective when the exact time is irrelevant or impossible to determine.

Common error

Avoid using "at an unknown time" when more precise language is possible. If an approximate timeframe can be provided, it's better to say "sometime in the early 1900s" instead of "at an unknown time."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at an unknown time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating when an action occurred without specifying the exact moment. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at an unknown time" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, showing examples from diverse sources. Its primary function is to indicate that an event occurred without specifying the exact moment, making it suitable across various contexts, particularly in scientific, news and wiki sources. When using this phrase, remember that while correct, it should be used only if more specificity is truly impossible or irrelevant. Alternatives like "at an unspecified time" or "at an indeterminate time" can offer subtle shifts in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at an indeterminate time

Replaces "unknown" with "indeterminate", suggesting a lack of precise definition.

at an unspecified time

Substitutes "unknown" with "unspecified", focusing on the absence of explicit detail.

at an undisclosed time

Replaces "unknown" with "undisclosed", implying intentional concealment.

at an undetermined time

Uses "undetermined" instead of "unknown", highlighting that the time hasn't been established yet.

at an unstated time

Similar to "unspecified", but may imply that the time was intentionally left out.

at a later stage

Indicates a time in the future without being specific. It changes from unknown to later.

at some point

Implies an indefinite time in the future or past. Changes the unknown aspect to "some point".

eventually

Suggests something will happen after a period of time, but without specifics. It changes the unknown aspect to "eventually".

sooner or later

Expresses that an event will happen, though the exact timing is vague. Changes the unknown aspect to sooner or later

in due course

Indicates that something will occur at the appropriate time in the future. Changes the unknown aspect to in due course.

FAQs

How do I use "at an unknown time" in a sentence?

Use "at an unknown time" when the precise moment something happened or will happen is not known or not important. For example, "The artifact was created "at an unknown time" in the distant past".

What can I say instead of "at an unknown time"?

You can use alternatives like "at an unspecified time", "at an indeterminate time", or "eventually" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "at an unknown date" instead of "at an unknown time"?

While both are grammatically correct, "at an unknown date" refers specifically to a day, while ""at an unknown time"" is more general and can refer to any point in time, not necessarily a specific day.

What's the difference between "at an unknown time" and "sometime"?

"At an unknown time" emphasizes the lack of specific knowledge about when something occurred, whereas "sometime" simply indicates an indefinite point in time, possibly in the future.