at ideal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at ideal" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to convey a state of perfection or optimal conditions, but the correct expression would be "at an ideal" or "in an ideal situation." Example: "In an ideal world, everyone would have access to quality education."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

The Cheddar is $9.95 a wedge at Ideal Cheese.

The New York Times - Food

Claire Hopkins is founder and managing director at Ideal, a Brighton based IT services provider.

The Guardian

The blue is $12.95 a pound at Ideal Cheese, $15.99 at Market Basket and $12.99 at Barefoot Contessa.

The New York Times - Food

Goat cheese with honey is $10 a pound at Ideal Cheese, 942 First Avenue (52nd Street), in Manhattan.

The New York Times - Food

"You'll frequently see men with just a little bit of a potbelly, right at ideal weight based on Caucasian standards".

The New York Times

Vacherin is $30 for a small wheel, which is about 1 1/2 pounds, at Ideal Cheese, 1205 Second Avenue (63rd Street); [phone].

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

The traditional Christmas centrepiece of a whole turkey or roast pork with its crown of crackling is an upwards-raised finger at ideals the vego holds dear.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Writing at the same time, an anonymous reviewer for a magazine called Daedalus also said that Yossarian "follows a fashion in spitting indiscriminately at business and the professions, at respectability, at ideals, at all visible tokens of superiority".

The Guardian - Books

Melted chocolate is at an ideal consistency for dipping at approximately 43ºC/110ºF.

WikiHow

"She hit it at the ideal time," Roffer said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Atlanta," he said, "came at an ideal time for me".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in an ideal situation" or "under ideal conditions" for grammatically sound alternatives to "at ideal".

Common error

Avoid using "at" with adjectives like "ideal" when describing a state or condition. Instead, opt for prepositions such as "in" or "under" followed by appropriate nouns to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at ideal" functions as a prepositional phrase attempting to modify a noun or verb by describing a state or condition. However, it's grammatically questionable, as noted by Ludwig AI, which recommends using "in an ideal situation" or "under ideal conditions" instead.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at ideal" is frequently used, particularly in scientific and news contexts, to describe optimal conditions. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Alternative phrases such as "in an ideal situation" or "under ideal conditions" should be used instead to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. Although "at ideal" appears in various sources, using grammatically sound alternatives will enhance the credibility and precision of your writing. While somewhat common, awareness of its grammatical issues is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under optimal conditions

Replaces 'ideal' with the synonym 'optimal' and changes the preposition.

in an ideal situation

Emphasizes the situational aspect of the ideal state.

under ideal circumstances

Changes the preposition and adds a noun to specify conditions.

at an ideal level

Specifies that something is 'at' a particular level, implying optimality.

in an ideal setting

Specifies the 'setting' as the context for ideal conditions.

under the most favorable conditions

Emphasizes favorable aspects that produce ideal outcome.

in a perfect world

Uses a more general, hypothetical framing.

when conditions are perfect

Uses a conditional clause to express the same idea.

in the best-case scenario

Presents the phrase as one specific scenario.

in a utopian environment

Uses the concept of utopia to convey a perfect setting.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the concept of an ideal state in a sentence?

Instead of saying "at ideal", use phrases like "in an ideal situation" or "under "optimal conditions"" to maintain grammatical correctness.

Is "at ideal" grammatically correct?

No, "at ideal" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests using "in an ideal situation" or "under "ideal circumstances"" instead.

What are some alternatives to "at ideal" in scientific writing?

In scientific writing, you can use "under "optimal conditions"", "at an ideal level", or "in an ideal setting" to describe the context accurately and grammatically.

How does the meaning change when using "in an ideal situation" instead of "at ideal"?

While both aim to convey a state of perfection, "in an ideal situation" is grammatically correct and emphasizes that the circumstances are perfect, whereas "at ideal" is considered grammatically incorrect.