by a rendezvous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by a rendezvous" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to an arrangement or meeting that is set to take place at a specific time and place, but it is more typical to use "at a rendezvous." Example: "We agreed to meet by a rendezvous at the park to discuss our plans."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Our proposed mission includes visits to two Trojans in the L4 population: a 500 km altitude fly-by of 1999 XS143, followed by a rendezvous with and detailed observations of 911 Agamemnon at orbital altitudes of 1000 100  km over a 12 month nominal science data capture period.

Planetary and Space Science

Most of the means of transport to medical facilities involved the use of the TEPC industrial transport vehicles to JV followed by a rendezvous with a Fire Department ambulance sent from the nearest Fire Department or with an emergency medical helicopter at a sports ground near JV.

Emergency Medicine Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Most of these projects aim at a fly-by or a rendezvous with the target object.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Jupiter will end its brilliant year-long show on Sunday evening (April 22) by making a rendezvous with an exceedingly thin and very young crescent moon. .

Huffington Post

The ESA's most daring mission to date--a rendezvous with a comet by an unmanned spacecraft called Rosetta--depends on the successful launch of a similar Ariane rocket from Kourou on 12 January.

Science Magazine

Accordingly, U.S. Army Gen. Mark Clark flew to Gibraltar with four key staff officers, and the party was carried by submarine to a rendezvous at a coastal villa some 60 miles (100 km) west of Algiers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

10 30 P.M. (Comedy Central) LIL' BUSH George and Barbara Bushdevise a way for Lil Bushh to keep his virtue when he's invited to a party by Lil Bill Clintonn, after which a rendezvous between Barbara and Colin Powell (voiced by Tim Meadows) ensues.

The New York Times

A good backgrounder on the Manila-Beijing squabbles can be found here, in a Rendezvous post by my colleague Didi Kirsten Tatlow.

The New York Times

The Dragon, a partially reusable spacecraft developed by SpaceX, was due for a rendezvous at the International Space Station.

The Guardian - Tech

This witness had also been there on Plumb Beach, a strip of sand by the Dead Horse Inlet reputed as a rendezvous point for sex, when Mr. Sandy was punched and chased into three lanes of highway traffic.

The New York Times

By arrival, ESA managers mean a rendezvous at a distance of 100 kilometers.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "at a rendezvous" instead of "by a rendezvous" as it is more commonly accepted and sounds less awkward in contemporary English.

Common error

Avoid overusing the phrase "by a rendezvous" in formal writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound unnatural or outdated. Opt for more common alternatives like "at a meeting" or "at a designated location" to maintain clarity and flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by a rendezvous" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun by indicating the means or method by which something is accomplished. It specifies that an action is facilitated or made possible through the act of meeting at a designated location.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically acceptable, the phrase "by a rendezvous" is an uncommon and potentially awkward construction in modern English. As Ludwig AI points out, it's generally preferable to use "at a rendezvous" or alternative phrases like "at a meeting" or "at a designated location". Although found in scientific and news contexts, its infrequent usage suggests it should be used with caution, especially in less formal settings. The phrase functions to describe how something is achieved through a planned meeting but is best replaced by more common alternatives to avoid sounding unnatural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at a meeting point

Replaces "rendezvous" with a more general term for a designated meeting location.

at an appointed place

Emphasizes the pre-arranged nature of the meeting location.

at a designated location

Similar to "at an appointed place", highlighting the specific selection of the meeting spot.

at a prearranged meeting

Focuses on the planning aspect of the meeting, rather than just the location.

at the agreed-upon spot

Highlights the mutual agreement on the meeting place.

at a secret location

Emphasizes the clandestine or private nature of the meeting.

at the specified location

Similar to "at a designated location", but uses "specified" to indicate clear instruction.

through a planned encounter

Shifts focus from the place to the organized action of meeting.

via a scheduled get-together

Uses more casual terms for meeting ("get-together") and planning ("scheduled").

through an arranged meetup

Similar to "via a scheduled get-together", but slightly more informal.

FAQs

How can I use "by a rendezvous" in a sentence?

While grammatically acceptable, "by a rendezvous" is less common. You might say, "The documents were delivered by a secret rendezvous at midnight." However, "at a rendezvous" is generally preferred.

What's a more common alternative to "by a rendezvous"?

Consider using phrases like "at a meeting", "at a designated location", or "at a prearranged meeting" as more natural-sounding alternatives.

Is "by a rendezvous" grammatically incorrect?

Not strictly incorrect, but it's less idiomatic. The preposition "at" is more commonly used to indicate location or occurrence, making "at a rendezvous" a smoother choice.

When should I use "by" versus "at" with "rendezvous"?

Use "at" to specify the location of the rendezvous. "By" might be used to describe something accomplished through the rendezvous, but this is rare and potentially confusing. For instance: The peace treaty was signed at a rendezvous. /s/at+a+rendezvous.