at down

USAGE SUMMARY

"at down" is not correct and usable in written English.
"Down" is an adverb and preposition and must be used with another word to form a phrase. For example, you can say "sit down" or "lie down".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

We can look at down the road.

The New York Times

At down times they appear spookily deserted.

The Guardian - Travel

P.S.A.L. championships, at Down ing Stadium, Randalls Island, 11 A.M.

The New York Times

"But at Down, the garden and house were linked inextricably.

The Guardian

Let's have a look at Down in the Valley.

The Guardian - Film

"He was still going well at Down Royal when he made the mistake," Jessica Harrington said.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

After a shaky few years, Marks & Spencer is also delivering astute fashion-led collections at down-to-earth prices.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Uncertainty exists in fluid contacts because most wells that penetrated the hydrocarbon-bearing intervals saw oil and gas at down-to situations, that is, fluid contacts are not known precisely for most reservoir compartments.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

In situ Fluid Analyzer (IFA), based on optical absorption methods, can provide the mass fractions of three hydrocarbon molecular groups: CH4, C2H6 C5H12 and C6H14+, as well as CO2, in real time at down-hole conditions.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

To look at down-stream genes regulated by overexpression of Hdac6, we performed the genome-wide expression analysis using Agilent Mouse Gene Expression Microarray, 8X60K chips (heatmap showing differential gene expression as 1.5 fold changes as cut-off, Fig. S1G).

Protein & Cell

Yes, we had performed these experiments and there is no enhanced CDK9 recruitment at down-regulated genes.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the intended meaning: If indicating a location, use "at the bottom" or "down at". If indicating a decline or negative state, rephrase using terms like "in decline" or "at a disadvantage".

Common error

Avoid using "at down" as a substitute for phrases indicating location or direction. It is not a grammatically correct construction and should be replaced with established phrases like "down at", "at the bottom", or rephrased for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at down" typically appears in contexts where a preposition indicating location or direction is needed. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it does not follow standard grammar rules and requires correction or rephrasing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at down" appears across various sources, including news, science, and general web content, Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically incorrect. It seems the intended meaning often revolves around indicating a downward direction or a lower position. To ensure clarity and correctness, it is advisable to use established phrases like "down at", "at the bottom", or rephrase the sentence to correctly incorporate "down" with a verb (e.g., "sit down"). The prevalence of "at down" despite its incorrectness highlights the importance of careful proofreading to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

down at

Reverses the order of the words, which can be grammatically correct in some contexts if used as part of a larger, correct phrase.

sit down

Provides a common and grammatically correct verb-preposition combination using "down".

look down

Offers another grammatically sound verb-preposition pairing using "down".

at a low point

Replaces "down" with a phrase expressing a similar idea of being in a diminished state.

towards the bottom

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate a lower position, replacing "down".

at the bottom

A more specific phrase indicating the lowest position, substituting "down".

at a disadvantage

Suggests a state of being unfavorably positioned, differing in meaning but contextually relevant.

in decline

Indicates a state of decreasing or worsening, an alternative to the idea of "down" as a negative direction.

descending

A verb form indicating movement downwards, a more direct substitute for "down" as a direction.

plummeting

Implies a rapid fall or drop, conveying a sense of sudden downward movement.

FAQs

Is "at down" grammatically correct?

No, "at down" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The word "down" typically functions as an adverb or preposition and requires a verb or noun to form a coherent phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's often misused.

How can I correct instances where I might be tempted to use "at down"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "at down" with phrases like "down at", "at the bottom", or rephrase the sentence to use "down" correctly with a verb, such as "sit down".

What are some alternative ways to express a downward direction or position without using "at down"?

You can use prepositional phrases like "towards the bottom" or "at a low point". If describing movement, consider verbs like "descending" or "plummeting".

When is it appropriate to use the word "down" in a sentence?

"Down" is correctly used as an adverb (e.g., "sit down"), a preposition (e.g., "down the street"), or part of established phrases (e.g., "down to earth"). Ensure that "down" is appropriately paired with other words to maintain grammatical correctness.