at nights

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at nights" is not standard in written English; the correct form is "at night." You can use "at night" when referring to the time period after sunset and before sunrise.
Example: "I enjoy going for walks at night when the streets are quiet."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

'I sleep at nights.

Independent

What's keeping you awake at nights?

The New York Times

It is cold here at nights".

The New York Times

The dogs are humanised, and "cry words / at nights".

The Guardian - Books

We have been hearing their howling at nights for years.

The New York Times

"That used to keep my father awake at nights".

The New York Times

They're working Saturdays, they're working Sundays, they're working at nights.

The Guardian

At nights I work on the London Underground as part of the repair and engineering team.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But summer, minus the inconveniences, continues to be on offer at Nights and Weekends in Greenpoint.

The New York Times - Food

"Some people gather around the space heater at nights because they can't sleep.

The New York Times

I only work on my books at nights and at weekends.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at night" instead of "at nights" for grammatically correct sentences. "At night" is the standard way to refer to the period between sunset and sunrise.

Common error

Avoid pluralizing "night" when using the preposition "at". The correct form is always "at night", not "at nights". Pluralization is redundant and not grammatically sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at nights" functions as an adverbial phrase, intended to modify a verb and indicate when an action occurs. However, as Ludwig AI explains, the grammatically correct form is "at night". While common, "at nights" is considered non-standard.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

32%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at nights" appears frequently in various contexts, it's considered grammatically incorrect. The standard and preferred form is "at night". According to Ludwig AI, it is better to use the single form. Though prevalent across news, scientific, and general web content, its incorrectness suggests a need for careful editing and adherence to standard English grammar. To ensure clarity and correctness, opting for alternatives such as "during the night" or "in the night" is advisable. Remember to avoid pluralizing "night" after the preposition "at".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at night

Singular form, referring to nighttime in general.

during the night

Emphasizes the duration of the night.

in the night

Similar to "at night", but can imply a specific night.

nightly

Adverb indicating something that happens every night.

every night

Highlights the recurring nature of an event each night.

each night

Similar to "every night", emphasizing individual nights.

overnight

Indicates something happening during the course of a single night.

in the evenings

Refers to the period close to night.

after dark

Highlights the time after sunset.

under the cover of darkness

Implies secrecy or concealment.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "at nights" or "at night"?

The correct phrase is "at night". The phrase "at nights" is considered grammatically incorrect. Use "at night" to refer to the period between sunset and sunrise.

What are some alternatives to saying "at nights"?

Instead of "at nights", you can use phrases like "during the night", "in the night", or simply "at night".

Why is "at nights" considered incorrect?

The phrase "at nights" is non-standard and grammatically incorrect. English typically uses the singular form "night" after the preposition "at" to indicate time. Therefore, the correct form is always "at night".

When should I use "at night" vs. "during the night"?

"At night" is a general way to refer to nighttime. "During the night" emphasizes an action or event that takes place over a period of time within the nighttime hours. For example: "I sleep at night" vs. "I heard noises during the night".