at yesterday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at yesterday" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It is incorrect because "yesterday" is an adverb of time and does not require a preposition like "at." Example: "I went to the store yesterday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

"Do you remember the sign I liked at the restaurant we ate at yesterday?" Yes I do.

HuffPost

Then take a look at yesterday".

The New York Times

"I could not tell what she would be at yesterday.

The Guardian - Books

Peter Andrews, 64, was discovered at yesterday morning.

The Guardian

"I think I actually know less about this than about badminton, which I was at yesterday, for that controversy".

The New Yorker

And some will change often, such as the number the stock market closed at yesterday.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

At Christmas.

Independent

"At Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The New York Times - Sports

It arrived at 12.22pm.

Independent

Cult viewing at last.

Independent

Re "Wired Platforms at Last.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "at yesterday" in formal or informal writing. Use "yesterday" instead, as it is already an adverb of time and doesn't require a preposition.

Common error

A common error is treating adverbs of time like nouns that require prepositions. Remember that words like "yesterday", "today", and "tomorrow" function as adverbs and do not need "at", "on", or "in" before them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at yesterday" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, "yesterday" is an adverb of time and functions without a preposition. Therefore, the phrase has no valid grammatical function in standard English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at yesterday" is considered grammatically incorrect in English. As Ludwig AI clearly points out, "yesterday" is an adverb of time and does not require a preposition. Therefore, the correct and universally accepted form is simply "yesterday". While variations might exist in colloquial speech, it is best to avoid "at yesterday" in both formal and informal writing to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

On the previous day

Replaces "yesterday" with a more formal and descriptive phrase, using "on" instead of "at".

The day before today

Breaks down "yesterday" into its component parts for clarity, avoiding any preposition.

The day prior

Uses a more concise and slightly formal substitute for "the day before".

The preceding day

Offers a formal alternative, emphasizing the sequence of days.

24 hours ago

Provides a literal timeframe, focusing on the duration from the present.

The other day

More vague, indicating a recent day, not necessarily the one immediately before.

Recently

Indicates an event happened in the near past, without specifying a particular day.

In the recent past

Similar to "recently" but slightly more emphatic about the past timeframe.

Not long ago

Emphasizes the short time since an event occurred.

Earlier

A very general term for something that happened before now, without specifying when.

FAQs

Why is "at yesterday" considered grammatically incorrect?

The word "yesterday" functions as an adverb of time. Adverbs modify verbs and don't require a preposition like "at". Using "at yesterday" is redundant and doesn't conform to standard English grammar.

What is the correct way to refer to the day before today?

The correct and most common way is simply to use the word "yesterday". Alternative phrases include "the previous day" or "on the prior day".

Are there situations where using a preposition before a time-related word is acceptable?

Yes, prepositions are needed with specific times (e.g., "at 3 PM"), days of the week (e.g., "on Monday"), or months (e.g., "in July"). However, adverbs of time like "yesterday" do not require a preposition.

Can I use "at yesterday" in informal conversation?

While you might hear non-standard usage in casual speech, it's best to avoid "at yesterday" even in informal contexts. Stick to "yesterday" for clear and correct communication.