at sometime

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at sometime" is not correct in standard written English; the correct form is "at some time." You can use it when referring to an unspecified point in the future or past.
Example: "I hope to visit that museum at some time during my trip."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Tension-type headache (TTH) affects up to 80% of the general population at sometime during their life and shows a global prevalence in adults of 42% [1].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

At least two men made claims of abuse in 1999 and at sometime in 2003-4.

The Guardian

At sometime before May of 1838, William, Sarah, Caroline and Chester moved from Oneida County to Orleans in Ontario County.

Cornell University

"Loose balls will come, runs will follow and at sometime tomorrow we may be able to put the pedal down.

The Guardian - Sport

With the calculations of two different accumulative errors, the sunrise/sunset database provides a series of electronically adjustable time intervals and tracks in the color space to reappear as the most beautiful moment of sunrise/sunset, at sometime and somewhere.

Optics Communications

I brought them all together but each of the individual things had already been done by somebody at sometime," she said.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

In all, at least 80percentt of the genome appears to be active at least sometime in our lives.

The Washington Post

I might bake at home sometime for company".

The New Yorker

He says he's supposed to get a call from Billy Donovan at Florida sometime this offseason.

The Washington Post

He would sit up until he got off at Regina, sometime toward morning.

The New Yorker

"He should be back at work sometime this week," said his spokesman, Darius Goore.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer the grammatically correct phrase "at some time" over "at sometime" in formal writing to ensure clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "at sometime" due to its grammatical incorrectness. Always double-check and replace it with "at some time" or a suitable alternative to maintain professionalism and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at sometime" functions as an adverbial phrase, intending to specify when an action or event occurs. Despite this intention, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "at some time."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "at sometime" appears frequently in diverse sources, including news media and scientific publications, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests the correct form is "at some time". When writing formally, it is advisable to use the proper phrase, or consider alternatives such as "eventually" or "at a future date" to ensure clarity and maintain credibility. Although widespread, using the incorrect phrase undermines professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at some time

Corrects the grammatical error by using the standard English phrasing.

eventually

Indicates something will happen at a later, unspecified date.

sooner or later

Suggests that something is inevitable, even if the exact timing is unknown.

at a certain point

Highlights a specific, though undefined, moment in time.

in due course

Implies that something will happen when the time is right.

at some stage

Emphasizes a phase or period when something will occur.

in the future

Broadly references an unspecified time yet to come.

at a future date

More formal than "in the future", specifying a later point.

in time

Suggests that something will occur within an eventual timeframe.

down the line

An informal expression indicating a later period.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "at sometime"?

The correct phrase is "at some time". The single-word "sometime" functions as an adverb meaning 'at an unspecified time'. Using "some time" as two words allows "some" to modify "time" correctly.

Is "at sometime" ever acceptable?

While you might encounter "at sometime" in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for "at some time" in formal or academic writing.

What are some alternatives to "at sometime" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "eventually", "sooner or later", or "at a future date" as alternatives to "at sometime".

How can I remember to use "at some time" instead of "at sometime"?

Think of "some time" as meaning 'an unspecified amount of time'. Remembering the separate words emphasize the meaning more clearly than the fused, incorrect "at sometime".