at quarter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at quarter" is not correct and usable in written English without additional context.
It may be used in contexts related to time, such as indicating a specific quarter of an hour or a financial quarter, but it typically requires more information to be clear. Example: "The meeting will start at quarter past three."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

I wake up at quarter to 9.

The New York Times

Have dinner ready at quarter to eight".

The New Yorker

Wright emerged at quarter time and played out the match.

The Guardian - Sport

This is part of our excitement, at quarter past eight.

The New Yorker

I emerged at quarter of four, feeling shaky.

The New Yorker

The school bus picks me up at quarter past five.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

The coach famous for his up-tempo style projected nothing but energy, even at quarter-speed.

The New York Times - Sports

Players scuffled at quarter-time and there were words exchanged at each break.

The Guardian - Sport

West Coast were lucky to only trail by 26 points at quarter-time.

The Guardian - Sport

Essendon hit back with four goals and improbably led by 10 points at quarter-time.

The Guardian - Sport

A video, timed at quarter-past midnight, shows them carrying the ambassador outside on to the patio.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always specify the context when using "at quarter". Use "at quarter past" or "at quarter to" to indicate time. If referring to a proportion, use "at a quarter of" or "one-quarter of".

Common error

Avoid using "at quarter" without specifying what it refers to. Saying "The event starts at quarter" is unclear. Instead, provide the full context: "The event starts at quarter past seven".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at quarter" functions as a prepositional phrase, often requiring additional context to specify a time or proportion. As shown by Ludwig, its meaning is often completed by words like "past", "to", or "of".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at quarter" is a common expression that usually needs additional context to be grammatically correct and clearly understood. Ludwig AI highlights that while it appears frequently in news, scientific articles, and general writing, it usually requires words such as "past", "to", or "of" to convey a complete meaning. Best practice dictates specifying the context fully, for example, using "at quarter past" or "at a quarter of". The sources found by Ludwig include The Guardian, The New Yorker, and Wikipedia.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fifteen minutes past

Replaces "at quarter past" with a more explicit time reference.

fifteen minutes to

Replaces "at quarter to" with a more explicit time reference.

at fifteen

Shortened version indicating the 15-minute mark.

one fourth of

Expresses a proportional relationship equivalent to a quarter.

at the quarter mark

Indicates a specific point in time or progress.

at a quarter of the hour

A more formal way of saying at quarter past or to the hour.

at the fifteen-minute interval

Specifically refers to a 15-minute segment.

when a quarter of the time has elapsed

Expresses a temporal proportion in a detailed manner.

at 25 percent

Uses a percentage to represent a quarter.

every fifteen minutes

Focuses on the recurrence of a 15-minute interval.

FAQs

How should I correctly use "at quarter" in a sentence?

To use "at quarter" correctly, specify the context. For time, say "at quarter past" or "at quarter to". For proportions, use "at a quarter of" or "one-quarter of". For example: "The meeting starts "at quarter past nine"".

What are some alternatives to saying "at quarter past"?

Instead of "at quarter past", you can say "fifteen minutes past" or "a quarter after".

Is it correct to say "at quarter" without additional information?

Generally, it's best to avoid using just "at quarter" as it lacks specific context. Adding "past" or "to" clarifies the time. In other contexts specify which one fourth (or quarter) you are talking about. For example: "at a quarter of the price".

What's the difference between "at quarter to" and "at quarter past"?

"At quarter to" means fifteen minutes before the hour (e.g., "at quarter to nine" is 8:45). "At quarter past" means fifteen minutes after the hour (e.g., "at quarter past nine" is 9:15).