at around midday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at around midday" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the approximate time when something happened or might happen. For example: "We had lunch at around midday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

"The man was pronounced dead and the body was removed from the scene at around midday.

Independent

"So every day at around midday, I walk to pick up my little boy from nursery.

Independent

Staff heard an initial explosion at around midday, followed by gunfire.

The Guardian

At around midday on May 13 , 1999 Michael Matthews reached the summit of Mount Everest.

The New York Times

It was obviously taken at around midday: why aren't I at work?

The Guardian - Opinion

Yesterday, a cyclist died after he was struck by a bus on Croydon's tram line at around midday.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

They will resume Saturday, ending at around noon.

The New York Times

"That was on a Saturday night at around midnight.

The New Yorker

I just sleep right through it and wake up at around noon.

Columbia University

At around noon, he and the U-Haul arrived at 290 Broadway.

The New Yorker

The next day, at around noon, the Lawrences gathered in the lobby.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for an international audience, be mindful that "midday" can also be referred to as "noon". Consider clarifying with "12 p.m." to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While phrases like "in the vicinity of noon" are technically correct, they sound overly formal and stilted in everyday writing. "At around midday" strikes a better balance between clarity and naturalness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at around midday" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb to indicate when an action occurs. As Ludwig states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Science

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at around midday" is a correct and usable English phrase, as verified by Ludwig, used to indicate an approximate time near the middle of the day. It functions as an adverbial phrase of time with a neutral register, making it suitable for various contexts, especially in news and media. While alternatives like "approximately noon" exist, "at around midday" offers a balance of clarity and naturalness. When writing, remember to consider your audience and choose the most appropriate level of precision for the context. It's best to avoid overly formal alternatives in general usage. The phrase appears most frequently in journalistic sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Close to midday

Emphasizes the proximity to the exact time of midday.

Approximately noon

Uses a more direct and concise expression to indicate a similar time.

About 12 p.m.

Specifies the time numerically instead of using a descriptive phrase.

In the middle of the day

Replaces "around" with "in the middle of" for a slight variation.

Around the middle of the day

Rephrases the concept using a more descriptive approach instead of a direct time reference.

Near lunchtime

Refers to the time period associated with lunch rather than a precise moment.

In the vicinity of noon

A more formal and less common way of expressing the same time.

Give or take noon

Expresses that the time is roughly noon, allowing for some variation.

Middayish

An informal and colloquial term for around midday.

At the height of the day

Focuses on the position of the sun rather than a specific time.

FAQs

How can I use "at around midday" in a sentence?

You can use "at around midday" to indicate an approximate time, such as: "The meeting is scheduled to start at around midday."

What's the difference between "at around midday" and "at around noon"?

"At around midday" and "at around noon" are virtually interchangeable. "Midday" and "noon" both refer to the middle of the day.

Is it okay to use "at around midday" in a formal email?

Yes, "at around midday" is appropriate for formal emails when you need to indicate an approximate time without being overly specific.

What can I say instead of "at around midday"?

You could use alternatives like "approximately noon" or "near lunchtime" depending on the specific context you want to convey.