both of the dates

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both of the dates" is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
You can use it any time you want to refer to two dates simultaneously. For example, "I will need to attend both of the dates in order to complete the course requirements."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Finally, 1100 (17.9%) cases were excluded because both of the dates required to estimate the primary-care interval were not available.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We conduct tests both on the date of the first announcement of the law that had the specific threshold (on April 3, 2013) and on the actual disclosure date.

Columbia University

b His tombstone (q.v). and his AOG obituary both give the date of his death as Sept. 6. c He died tending victims of a yellow fever epidemic then raging in Memphis.

University of Chicago

Such variability will be taken into account to assess an environmental risk of infection per child, which may depend on both the date of birth and the place of residence of the followed children.

BMJ Open

Fifteen of those were placed in fixed locations throughout the house in "The Surreal Life," and are used at both the beginning and later phases of the dates on "Blind Date," Mr. Renfroe said.

The New York Times

The characterization of the constitutive materials provided useful information both to support the dating of the Machine proposed by the inscription and to obtain a base of data for a possible conservation work.

Chemistry Central Journal

Timing and Targets The conspirators' selection of both the date and the targets for the attacks provides another opportunity to examine the plot from within.

The New York Times

The GOP would not countenance revenues, but in this case, both the hard-date sunsetting of the Bush-era tax rates, as well as the results of the 2012 election, gave Obama all the leverage in the debate.

Huffington Post

instead of the date.

WikiHow

In a very small number of instances, respondents answered both the exact date and the estimated date; when this occurred this was taken to be the exact date.

BMC Family Practice

The other way is to set the cost basis of both coins on the date of the fork depending on the coin distribution.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "both of the dates", ensure the context clearly establishes which two dates you are referring to, avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "both of the dates" without clearly defining or establishing which two dates are being discussed. Ensure clarity to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both of the dates" functions as a determiner phrase specifying two particular dates within a given context. It clarifies that two specific dates, rather than a single date or multiple dates, are being referred to. Ludwig confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

31%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "both of the dates" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression across diverse contexts, including science, news, and academic writing. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is perfectly correct and usable in written English. It serves to specify two distinct dates, ensuring clarity and precision in communication. While alternatives like "both dates" exist for brevity, "both of the dates" provides a slightly more formal and explicit reference. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the two dates to avoid any potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

both dates

Omits "of the" for brevity, suitable for informal contexts.

the two dates

Replaces "both" with "the two" for a slightly different emphasis.

each of the dates

Emphasizes individuality rather than collectivity.

the pair of dates

More formal and emphasizes the pairing aspect.

the two specified dates

Adds specificity, implying previous mention of the dates.

the aforementioned dates

Formally references previously mentioned dates.

respective dates

Highlights individual dates in relation to different items or events.

corresponding dates

Highlights a relationship between the dates and something else.

the set of dates

Treats the dates as a group.

either date

Focuses on one date or the other, rather than both simultaneously. Changes the meaning significantly.

FAQs

How can I use "both of the dates" in a sentence?

You can use "both of the dates" when referring to two specific dates that have already been mentioned or are clear from the context. For example, "I need confirmation for "both of the dates" to finalize the plan."

What is a more concise alternative to "both of the dates"?

A more concise alternative is "both dates", which omits "of the" without losing clarity in most contexts.

Is it grammatically correct to say "both of the date" instead of "both of the dates"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. "Both" implies plurality, so ""both of the dates"" is the correct form when referring to two dates.

What's the difference between "both of the dates" and "the two dates"?

The phrases are largely interchangeable. "Both of the dates" emphasizes that you are considering two dates together, while "the two dates" simply identifies that there are two dates being referenced.