at the same time as

USAGE SUMMARY

'at the same time as' is a perfectly correct phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to express that two or more things occurred or exist simultaneously. For example: "He was running at the same time as the rain started to fall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

At the same time, as noted by Cunha et al.

SERIEs

At the same time as a recession.

The Guardian

TEs were normalized at the same time as the genes.

Nature

Ireland joined at the same time as Britain.

The Guardian

"Unfortunately, he played at the same time as Michael Jordan.

The New York Times - Sports

Presumably at the same time as actually posting on Facebook.

The Guardian

I find out at the same time as everyone else.

The New Yorker

"I was doing Footlights at the same time as them.

The Guardian

This happened at the same time as business investment soared.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Sometimes other procedures, such as laparoscopy, are done at the same time as hysteroscopy.

Harvard University

Students abroad register for courses online at the same time as their classmates on campus.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When clarity is crucial, use "at the same time as" to explicitly indicate simultaneity, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Consider alternatives like "simultaneously" or "concurrently" for more concise phrasing.

Common error

Avoid using "at the same time as" repetitively within a short span of text. Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "simultaneously", "concurrently", or simply "while" to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the same time as" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a clause specifying when something else occurs. Ludwig confirms its correctness in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at the same time as" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to explicitly denote simultaneity, meaning two or more events are occurring concurrently. Ludwig confirms that its a perfectly correct phrase in written English and examples show its wide applicability across diverse registers, most notably in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While its usage is grammatically sound, consider varying your phrasing with synonyms like "simultaneously" or "concurrently" to maintain writing fluidity. Remember to use "at the same time as" for explicit clarity, especially when the synchronous nature of events is crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simultaneously with

Emphasizes the occurrence of two events at precisely the same moment.

concurrently with

Highlights the parallel nature of two events happening at the same time.

in conjunction with

Suggests that two events or actions are happening together and may be related.

while

A more concise way to indicate that two things are happening during the same period.

as

Similar to 'while', but can also imply a causal relationship.

at the very moment that

Emphasizes the exactness and immediacy of the simultaneity.

during the period when

Focuses on the duration of time in which two events overlap.

in parallel with

Highlights the simultaneous and often independent nature of two processes.

coincidentally with

Suggests that the simultaneity is unexpected or unplanned.

alongside

Indicates that two events or processes are happening in close proximity, both spatially and temporally.

FAQs

How can I use "at the same time as" in a sentence?

Use "at the same time as" to indicate that two or more events or actions occur simultaneously. For example, "The sun rises "at the same time as" the birds begin to sing."

What are some alternatives to "at the same time as"?

Alternatives to "at the same time as" include "simultaneously", "concurrently", "while", and "as", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between using "while" and "at the same time as"?

While both indicate simultaneity, "at the same time as" emphasizes the synchronous nature of events more explicitly. "While" can also imply a sense of contrast or condition, which "at the same time as" does not.

Can I begin a sentence with "at the same time as"?

While grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "At the same time as" can sometimes sound awkward. It's often better to restructure the sentence for smoother flow. For instance, instead of "At the same time as he arrived, the phone rang", try "The phone rang "at the same time as" he arrived" or "The phone rang as he arrived".