at day's end

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at day's end" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the conclusion of a day or the end of a period of time, often in a reflective or summarizing context. Example: "At day's end, I like to reflect on what I accomplished and what I can improve for tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And, at day's end, nothing meaningful had changed.

The New Yorker

At day's end, with darkness falling, she headed back.

The New York Times

At day's end, leadership was the clear casualty.

The New York Times

At day's end, neither house had voted on the measure, leaving its fate uncertain.

The New York Times

At day's end, the committee unanimously agreed to send the bill to the full Senate.

The New York Times

And at day's end, we've got 70 to 80 hours of rushes.

The New York Times

At day's end, many were turned away from the job fair.

The New York Times

At day's end, though, your cheating heart will return to your first and only true love.

The New York Times

At day's end, who do you think will be left standing?

The New York Times

At day's end, they are the ones who say yea or nay to settlement or trial.

The New York Times

At day's end, the backyard pool was filled with children's blow-up toys, deflated and half submerged.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place a comma after the phrase when it begins a sentence to improve readability and signal the adverbial function.

Common error

Writers sometimes omit the apostrophe in "day's", resulting in the incorrect "at days end". Always include the possessive apostrophe because the end belongs to the day.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at day's end" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as a temporal adverbial. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to modify entire clauses by providing a timeframe for the action, often appearing at the beginning or end of sentences to provide context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Academic

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at day's end" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct expression used to denote the conclusion of a day or a figurative ending. Ludwig AI data indicates that it is a favorite among top-tier journalists at The New York Times and The New Yorker for its ability to concisely wrap up a narrative or a set of facts. It strikes a professional balance between the literal and the idiomatic. When using it, remember the possessive apostrophe in "day's" and consider using a comma if the phrase opens your sentence. Whether you are describing a literal sunset or the final result of a business negotiation, this phrase offers a sophisticated alternative to more common idioms like "at the end of the day".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the end of the day

Adds a slightly more idiomatic and figurative tone often used for summaries

by day's end

Shifts the focus to a deadline or a point in time by which something was completed

at the close of the day

A more literary or poetic variation of the temporal marker

when the day concluded

More formal and explicit about the termination of activities

once the day was over

Uses a clausal structure to indicate the completion of the period

ultimately

More concise and strictly focused on the final outcome rather than the time

by nightfall

Specifically refers to the onset of darkness rather than the general end of a working day

as evening fell

More descriptive and evocative of the literal transition into nighttime

in the final analysis

Significantly more formal and analytical in nature

finally

A simpler adverbial alternative focusing on sequence

FAQs

How do I use "at day's end" in a sentence?

The phrase "at day's end" can be used as a temporal marker, such as: "at day's end, the team reviewed their progress". It is often used to signal a conclusion or a summary of events.

What is the difference between "at day's end" and "at the end of the day"?

While both can be literal, "at the end of the day" is more frequently used as a figurative idiom meaning 'ultimately'. "at day's end" feels slightly more formal and is more commonly used in descriptive writing.

Is it correct to say "at day end"?

No, you should use "at day's end" with the possessive 's or "at the end of the day". The version without the possessive is generally considered non-standard.

Can I use "by day's end" instead?

Yes, "by day's end" is a perfect alternative when you want to emphasize that an action was completed before the day finished.