at recess

USAGE SUMMARY

'at recess' is correct and usable in written English.
It is most commonly used to refer to a break period in a school day, usually outdoors. Example sentence: The students enjoyed playing tag at recess.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Because at recess they played basketball.

The New York Times

We performed Monty Python skits at recess.

The New York Times - Magazine

And at recess, he may not share.

The Washington Post

Or some game he played at recess.

The New York Times - Food

I was a killer at recess".

The New York Times - Sports

The Watchung students usually participate at recess.

The New York Times

"We do a lot of it at recess," she said.

The New York Times

Students of different races were even playing together at recess.

The New York Times - Health

So why aren't our kids spending more time at recess?

The Washington Post

Remember this friend (fill in the blank) in another class to hang out with at recess.

University of California, Berkeley

Tell me a story about a time when you had fun at recess?

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at recess" to specifically describe activities or events that occur during the designated break time in a school day. It's most appropriate when the context is clearly related to school.

Common error

Avoid using "at recess" in contexts unrelated to school breaks. While "recess" can metaphorically mean any break, "at recess" strongly implies a school setting. For general break times, use phrases like "during the break" or "at the break".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at recess" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to specify when an action takes place. It provides temporal context, indicating that something occurs during a school's designated break time, as seen in Ludwig examples like "Students of different races were even playing together "at recess"."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

28%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at recess" is a common and grammatically sound phrase that specifies when something occurs during a school break. As Ludwig confirms, it is used across various contexts, especially in news, academic writing, and general discussions. While versatile, it's best to reserve "at recess" for contexts clearly related to school, avoiding its use for general break times. Alternatives like "during recess" or "on the playground" may be suitable depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during recess

Uses "during" instead of "at" to specify when an action happens. It slightly shifts the focus to the time period itself.

while at recess

Adds a temporal conjunction to emphasize that something occurs simultaneously with recess.

during break time

Replaces "recess" with a more general term for a break period, applicable beyond school settings.

at playtime

Substitutes "recess" with "playtime", emphasizing the activity of playing.

on the playground

Focuses on the location where recess activities often occur, rather than the time itself.

during the school break

Offers a more formal and descriptive alternative to "recess", suitable for official contexts.

on the school grounds during recess

Combines location and time to describe where and when something happens.

during the midday break

Specifies the time of day of the break, implying it is the main break of the school day.

at the schoolyard

Emphasizes the specific location within the school where activities occur during the break.

during free time at school

Replaces "recess" with a description of its purpose – free time during the school day.

FAQs

How can I use "at recess" in a sentence?

You can use "at recess" to describe activities or events that happen during a school break, for example, "The children played basketball "at recess"".

What is a good alternative to "at recess"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "during recess", "during the break", or "on the playground".

Is it correct to use "at recess" to refer to any type of break?

While "recess" can sometimes be used metaphorically to mean any break, "at recess" typically implies a school setting. It's best to use it when referring to a school break.

What kind of activities usually happen "at recess"?

"At recess", children often engage in activities like playing games, socializing with friends, or simply relaxing outdoors.