at around the same time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at around the same time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that two or more events occurred simultaneously or in close proximity to each other in time. Example: "The two experiments were conducted at around the same time, leading to similar results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At around the same time Hans became interested in IT.

The Guardian

His housing benefits were stopped at around the same time.

The Guardian

At around the same time, he saw breakdancing on television.

The Guardian - Arts

At around the same time Keillor's marriage to Ulla ended.

The Guardian - Books

At around the same time, Pennsylvania opened a total isolation prison in Philadelphia.

University of California, Berkeley

Not coincidentally, other prices became more volatile at around the same time.

The Economist

At around the same time, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The New Yorker

Perhaps not coincidentally, Lana's gender consciousness started to emerge at around the same time.

The New Yorker

At around the same time, the first reverse-osmosis plants for seawater began to appear.

The Economist

At around the same time, Gilbreth published "The Home-maker and Her Job".

The New Yorker

Brown cross-examined Sanders when he was a street cop at around the same time.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at around the same time" to connect events that don't need exact precision but still share temporal proximity.

Common error

Avoid using "at around the same time" without a clear point of reference. If the reader doesn't know what time you're referring to, the phrase becomes meaningless. Always provide context to anchor the timeline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at around the same time" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an event occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, it specifies the timing of an action or state in relation to another, without requiring exact precision. The examples show the expression used in varied contexts, reinforcing its temporal role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

25%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at around the same time" is a versatile adverbial phrase indicating that events occurred in temporal proximity. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness, and its frequency across diverse sources—particularly News & Media and Wiki—underscores its widespread applicability. While conveying simultaneity, it allows for imprecision. To ensure clarity, always provide a clear reference point when using this expression. Alternative phrases such as "simultaneously" or "concurrently" can be employed for greater emphasis on the synchronicity of events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simultaneously

This alternative denotes that events happen exactly together.

concurrently

This alternative signifies that events happen at the same time, often implying they occur and end together.

in the same period

This phrase emphasizes that events happen within a specific duration.

during that era

This alternative specifies that events happen within a particular historical period.

in parallel

This alternative means that events are happening at the same time, without influencing each other.

at once

This phrase suggest that all the events occur together.

at the selfsame moment

The addition of the word "selfsame" increases the emphasis on events happening at the same moment.

contemporaneously

A more formal word indicating that the events occur during the same period.

synchronously

This term suggest a coordination of multiple events in time.

coincidentally

A word choice that can emphasize that the events occurred simultaneously by chance.

FAQs

How can I use "at around the same time" in a sentence?

Use "at around the same time" to indicate that two or more events occurred close together in time, without specifying an exact moment. For example, "The company launched its new product, and "at around the same time", its competitor released a similar offering."

What phrases are similar to "at around the same time"?

Alternatives to "at around the same time" include "simultaneously", "concurrently", or "in the same period". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more accurate to say "at the same time" or "at around the same time"?

"At the same time" implies a precise simultaneity, while "at around the same time" suggests a less precise, approximate simultaneity. Choose the phrase that best reflects the actual temporal relationship between the events you're describing. If the events did not occur at the exact same time then using "at around the same time" may be more precise.

What's the difference between "at the same time" and "at around the same time"?

"At the same time" indicates that two events happened exactly together, whereas "at around the same time" indicates that two events happened close to each other, although not precisely together. The difference is the level of precision in time.