before dinner today

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before dinner today" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time frame for an action or event that is expected to occur prior to dinner on the same day. Example: "I need to finish my work before dinner today so I can relax in the evening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

She'd arrived well before dinner today, again.

Los Angeles Times

Ten or 15 years ago, it was possible for a food writer to reach almost any chef directly by calling the kitchen around 3 in the afternoon, after lunch service and before dinner; today it usually takes a call to a main office and burrowing through layers of bureaucracy just to reach the authorized spokesperson, rarely the chef.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But its bittersweet Mediterranean herbiness works just as well over ice at a cafe table in Rome in high summer as it does before dinner on Christmas Day.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The MD-Logic system was initialized before dinner, between 1600 to 1700 h, whereas our subjects were connected at bedtime, between 2200 and 2300 h.

Diabetes Care

He should start withdrawals today, this afternoon, before dinner.

Huffington Post

But a few minutes before a dinner two weeks ago, Hilary Bowers, a founder of the designer-goods Web site Yoox (www.yoox.com), was totally cool.

The New York Times - Style

He was so passionate about getting the American publication of Wolf Hall right that before every dinner this year, "come over for a drink first" meant being pumped for thoughts about the latest jacket design for the book.

Huffington Post

And that was what hooked Susan Tifft '73 as she flipped through a friend's copy of King's book before dinner one summer evening in 2002.

Duke University

No watching Bobby Flay before Mommy cooks dinner!" December 3 , 2014

The New Yorker

My father drank it before our family dinner last weekend while he recalled stories about his classmates from St . Stephens College in Delhi (with whom he used to share the whiskey) and commented on the smooth texture, while my husband, Mahir, said it had a subtle flavor.

The New York Times

In an interview before the US Holocaust Memorial Museum dinner last month, at which he received the museum's highest honour, the Elie Wiesel Award, the former commander of the UN peacekeeping mission in Rwanda talked about the times his post-traumatic stress disorder has made him relive the slaughter.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before dinner today" to clearly specify a timeframe for completing a task or action on the same day as the evening meal. This provides a specific deadline within the current day.

Common error

Avoid using "before dinner today" when a more precise time can be specified. For example, instead of "I'll finish it before dinner today", consider "I'll finish it by 5 PM today" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before dinner today" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a time prior to the evening meal on the current day. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase, specifying a deadline within the same day.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "before dinner today" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to denote a timeframe preceding the evening meal on the current day. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, its occurrence is rare and suitable for neutral communication contexts. For enhanced clarity, specify a precise time when possible. Alternatives like "prior to dinner today" offer a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to dinner today

Replaces "before" with a more formal synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

earlier than dinner tonight

Specifies "tonight" instead of "today", emphasizing the evening timeframe.

ahead of dinner this evening

Uses "ahead of" to convey precedence and "this evening" for clarity.

sometime before this evening's dinner

Adds "sometime" to indicate an unspecified time before dinner.

before suppertime today

Substitutes "dinner" with "supper", implying a less formal meal.

in advance of dinner tonight

Employs "in advance of" for a more formal and emphasized precedence.

preceding dinner today

Replaces "before" with the more formal "preceding".

at some point before dinner today

Adds "at some point" to indicate a non-specific time before dinner.

leading up to dinner tonight

Focuses on the period approaching dinner rather than a specific time before.

before the evening meal today

Replaces "dinner" with "the evening meal" for a more descriptive alternative.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "before dinner today" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "prior to dinner today" or "in advance of dinner this evening". These options provide a more sophisticated and professional feel.

What's a less formal way to say "before dinner today"?

If you're aiming for a more casual tone, you could use phrases like "earlier than dinner tonight" or "before suppertime today". These options are suitable for informal conversations.

How does "before dinner today" differ from "before dinner tonight"?

While both phrases are similar, "before dinner today" emphasizes that the timeframe is within the current day, whereas "before dinner tonight" specifically refers to the evening meal. The choice depends on the desired emphasis.

When should I use "before dinner today" instead of a specific time?

Use "before dinner today" when the exact time isn't critical, but the action needs to be completed before the evening meal. However, specifying a precise time (e.g., "by 6 PM") is often clearer and more effective.