at the dates of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the dates of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to specific points in time or events that occurred on particular dates. Example: "The report was finalized at the dates of the annual meetings held in March and September."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Unless you're a whiz at the dates of Croatian regime changes, it's worth scrutinising the programme notes.

The Guardian

Looking at the dates of those mega-musicals, it occurs to me now that such opulence was particularly appropriate to the age of Reagan and the American dollar at its most muscular.

The New York Times

Asked to comment on Wiggins's TUEs, Rasmussen said: "Just looking at the drugs and looking at the dates of the injections it looks very much like something that could have happened 10 years ago when I was riding for general classification in the Tour de France.

The Guardian - Sport

Please look closely at the dates of activity.

Johns Hopkins University

If you look at the dates of the promissory notes involved, they go as far back as 1998 and as recently as August 2008, just before Wall Street imploded.

Forbes

Looking at the dates of membership in the Italian Order of Merit for Labor and the foundation constitution, we can notice that among the 71.83% of the family businesses where at least a member belongs to the Italian Order of Merit for Labor, 57.14% created the foundation after the honor and 42.86% before it.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Contestants must be over 21 at the date of registration.

The New York Times - Arts

He was 85 years old at the date of his death.

The New York Times

And don't look just at the date of the last software update.

The New York Times - Tech

Patients alive were censored at the date of the last follow-up.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

The mortality rate at the date of the latest news (an average of 2 years) was seventy-two percent.

Annals of Intensive Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at the dates of", ensure the context clearly defines which dates are being referenced to avoid ambiguity. This phrase is most effective when referring to a set or series of dates, rather than a single date.

Common error

Avoid using "at the dates of" when a more precise term like "on" or "during" would be more appropriate. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound verbose or less direct. If you're talking about a singular date, use "on the date of" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the dates of" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun by specifying a timeframe or period. According to Ludwig, it indicates when an action occurred or when a condition was valid. Examples show it used in formal contexts, often related to research and legal documentation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at the dates of" is a prepositional phrase used to specify a particular timeframe, typically a range of dates. It is considered grammatically correct and is commonly found in scientific, news, and academic contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig, its primary function is to provide temporal context, indicating when an action occurred or a condition was valid. While acceptable, it's important to ensure clarity and consider more precise alternatives like "on" or "during" for single dates, to avoid wordiness. The most authoritative sources using this phrase include PlosOne and BMC Cancer, highlighting its prevalence in scientific literature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the specified dates

Replaces "at the dates of" with a more direct reference to previously mentioned or known dates.

during the aforementioned dates

Refers back to dates previously mentioned, emphasizing their relevance.

on those particular dates

Highlights the importance or specificity of the mentioned dates.

during those specific days

Similar to 'on those particular dates' but using 'days' to narrow down the time frame.

during the period of

Shifts the focus from specific dates to a broader time frame or duration.

in the timeframe of

Indicates that something occurred within a defined temporal boundary.

on the days in question

Referring to dates that are being discussed or investigated.

within the span of

Emphasizes the duration or extent of time in which something happens.

in that period

Focuses on the time period when something occurred, rather than specific dates.

at that time

Simplifies the expression to refer to a general period instead of specific dates.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "at the dates of"?

Use "at the dates of" when you need to refer to a series or range of dates, often within a formal context. It's suitable when specifying events that occur over multiple days or within a defined period.

What's a simpler alternative to "at the dates of"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "on these dates", "during that period", or /s/on+the+specified+dates. The goal is to be clear and concise.

Is "at the dates of" interchangeable with "on the dates of"?

While similar, "on the dates of" might be preferred for singular events occurring on specific dates. "At the dates of" often implies a more extended timeframe or a series of events across multiple dates. For events happening only once on a given date, use /s/on+the+date+of.

How can I avoid sounding redundant when using "at the dates of"?

Ensure that the dates you are referring to are clearly defined or easily understood from the context. Avoid using the phrase if the specific dates are not relevant or if a more general timeframe would suffice.