at opportunity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at opportunity" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may confuse readers. Example: "We should act at opportunity to seize the moment." (This would be better phrased.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

First, how do we give everyone a fair shot at opportunity and security in this new economy?

Independent

"Our government shouldn't try to guarantee results," this politician said, "but it should guarantee a shot at opportunity for every American who's willing to work hard".

The New York Times

At Opportunity International, we focus on increasing private sector jobs: we offer small and medium enterprise loans, mostly to small holder farmers.

The Guardian

Pip Walker at Opportunity International, who is managing their DfID PbR-funded Girls Education Challengee, agrees: "It's helped us define the value of our project.

The Guardian

And I've seen her determination to give every American a fair shot at opportunity, no matter how tough the fight – that's what's always driven her, and still does".

The Guardian

And it is true that a lot of female selfie aficionados take their visual vernacular directly from pornography (unwittingly or otherwise): the pouting mouth, the pressed-together cleavage, the rumpled bedclothes in the background hinting at opportunity.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

We are now looking at opportunities".

The New York Times

Chances were snatched at, opportunities wasted.

The Guardian - Sport

2. They nurtured and persevered at opportunities. 3.

The New York Times

The fund will focus primarily on Europe, but will also look at opportunities in the United States.

The New York Times

By grasping at opportunities as they came, he built the thing, slowly but surely".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "at opportunity" in formal writing. Opt for more grammatically sound and commonly accepted alternatives such as "when the opportunity arises" or "taking advantage of the opportunity".

Common error

A common mistake is to use the wrong preposition with "opportunity". Instead of saying "at opportunity", which is incorrect, use phrases like "an opportunity for", "an opportunity to", or "taking the opportunity".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at opportunity" functions incorrectly as it attempts to modify a noun with a preposition, but the resulting structure is ungrammatical. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this is not a standard English expression.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at opportunity" is grammatically incorrect and not recognized as standard English. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's best to avoid this phrase in writing and speech. Instead, opt for more accepted alternatives like "when the opportunity arises" or ""seizing the opportunity"". Given its lack of usage across various authoritative sources, it's crucial to use established phrases to ensure clarity and correctness in communication. Therefore, be mindful of using correct prepositions and constructing grammatically sound sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when the opportunity arises

This alternative replaces "at opportunity" with a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, emphasizing the timing of taking action.

when the time is right

This alternative provides a more general expression for seizing an appropriate moment, removing the specific focus on 'opportunity'.

at the first chance

This alternative focuses on immediacy, highlighting the act of taking the earliest available opportunity.

in opportune circumstances

This alternative employs more formal language to convey the idea of favorable conditions aligning with an opportunity.

seizing the opportunity

This alternative conveys a sense of urgency and assertiveness in grasping an available opportunity.

given the opportunity

This alternative sets up a conditional scenario, indicating that something will happen if the opportunity is provided.

taking advantage of the opportunity

This alternative emphasizes the active role of utilizing an available opportunity.

in a favorable situation

This phrase broadens the context from a specific opportunity to a general state of advantageous circumstances.

when feasible

This alternative highlights the practicality and possibility of something happening, rather than specifically referring to an opportunity.

when possible

This alternative indicates that action will be taken if circumstances allow, without necessarily implying a specific opportunity.

FAQs

What does "at opportunity" mean?

The phrase "at opportunity" is not a standard English expression and is considered grammatically incorrect. It lacks a clear, established meaning.

How can I correct the phrase "at opportunity" in a sentence?

Replace "at opportunity" with a grammatically correct alternative like "when the opportunity arises", "given the opportunity", or "seizing the opportunity" depending on the intended meaning.

Is there a similar phrase to "at opportunity" that is more commonly used?

While "at opportunity" is not standard, a related phrase is "taking advantage of the opportunity", which implies actively using an available chance.

What's the difference between "at opportunity" and ""when the opportunity arises""?

"At opportunity" is grammatically incorrect and not used in standard English. "When the opportunity arises" is a correct and common phrase indicating that something will happen at the appropriate time or moment.