at the date

USAGE SUMMARY

"at the date" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an appointed day or time. For example, "We agreed to meet for lunch at the date of 30th January."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I just looked at the date!

The New York Times

"And I looked at the date.

The New Yorker

"I tell them, 'Look at the date,' " he said.

The New York Times

"To be honest I never even looked at the date.

The Guardian - Sport

"I looked at the date and realised its significance".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Contestants must be over 21 at the date of registration.

The New York Times - Arts

The Tribunal assembles at the date fixed by the parties.

Yale University

Coverage was analysed at the date children turned 7, 13 and 18 months of age.

Vaccine

I looked at the date; it was Sunday 29 April 2007.

The Guardian

However, the completion of the sale did not come at the date set by Bloom.

The New Yorker

You have to look at the date to see that this is not a forgery.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at the date" in formal writing, ensure the context clearly defines which date is being referenced to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "at the date" without specifying which date you're referring to, especially when multiple dates are mentioned in the same passage. Provide enough context to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the date" functions as an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying a particular time. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at the date" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase, particularly within scientific, news, and academic contexts. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it serves to pinpoint a specific moment in time, often for setting deadlines or defining conditions. While correct, it's essential to ensure clarity by explicitly stating or referencing the date being discussed. Alternatives like "on that date" or "as of that date" can offer similar precision while slightly altering the emphasis. Remember to provide sufficient context to prevent any ambiguity when using "at the date" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on that date

Replaces "at" with "on", focusing on a specific date.

as of that date

Indicates a condition or status from a specific date forward.

on the specified date

Emphasizes that the date has been previously mentioned or determined.

upon the date

A more formal way to indicate something occurring when a specific date arrives.

by that date

Indicates a deadline or a point in time before or on a certain date.

at that point in time

A more general phrase that could refer to a specific date.

at the appointed time

Focuses on a scheduled or agreed-upon time, which could be linked to a date.

at the given time

Similar to 'at the appointed time', but emphasizes that the time is already known.

at the moment

Refers to the current or immediate time, less specific than a particular date.

in that timeframe

Indicates a period of time including a specific date, rather than the date itself.

FAQs

How can I use "at the date" in a sentence?

The phrase "at the date" specifies a particular point in time. For example, "Contestants must be over 21 "at the date of registration"".

What is a formal alternative to "at the date"?

A more formal alternative is "as of that date", which indicates a condition or status from a specific date forward.

Is it always necessary to specify a year when using "at the date"?

Specifying the year depends on the context. If the year is already clear from the surrounding text, it might not be necessary. However, including the year ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity, especially when discussing events across different years.

When should I use "on" instead of "at the date"?

While "at the date" is correct, using "on [date]" is more common and natural. Consider using "on" for simplicity and clarity, such as "The event will be held on July 26th".