by new year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by new year" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a deadline or timeframe for something to be completed or achieved by the time the new year arrives. Example: "We need to finalize the project by new year to ensure a smooth transition into the next phase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

By New Year the whole country had ground to a halt.

The New Yorker

The first day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar (February or March of the Gregorian calendar) is marked by New Year (Losar) celebrations throughout Tibet.

Encyclopedia Britannica

By new year – when its follow-up, Antmusic, was released and the Kings of the Wild Frontier album deposed Abba's Super Trouper from the top of the charts – Adam and the Ants were unequivocally the biggest pop band in the UK, a position they would occupy for the next 18 months (at one dizzying juncture in 1981, they had seven singles in the Top 40 at once).

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

We'll quickly put the computer through some benchmarks and several rounds of TF2 to make sure everything is in order, then pack it back up and ship it out to the winner by New Years.

TechCrunch

The software is a bit confusing at first but the user should be able to overcome the learning curve by News Year's.

TechCrunch

Our working lives are broken up only by the school holidays, by the new year sales and by bank holidays.

BBC

By the new year, she despised me.

The New York Times - Magazine

MB, by email "New year, new me"?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Sky News reports they'll all shut by the new year.

The Guardian

Expected to take up to 1.5 million people by the new year.

The Guardian

The rose bag, introduced last month, may be gone by the new year.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by new year" when setting a clear deadline for completion or achievement that coincides with the beginning of the new year. For instance, "The report must be submitted "by new year" to allow for planning in January."

Common error

Avoid using "by new year" when a more precise date or timeframe is necessary. Saying "by January 1st" leaves less room for ambiguity than "by new year".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by new year" functions as an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying a verb to indicate a timeframe or deadline. It specifies when something should be completed or achieved, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

17%

Tech

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "by new year" indicates a deadline or timeframe coinciding with the beginning of the new year. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct, although relatively rare in usage, mostly appearing in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Tech contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it clearly communicates the intended deadline and is appropriate for the context. If greater precision is needed, consider using a specific date like "by January 1st". Alternatives like "before the new year" or "by New Year's Day" can provide clarity in different situations. Overall, "by new year" is a useful phrase for setting expectations related to the start of a new calendar year.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before the new year

Replaces "by" with "before", emphasizing the timeframe leading up to the new year.

by New Year's Day

Refers specifically to the first day of the new year as a deadline.

by the start of the new year

Adds specificity by explicitly stating "the start of the new year".

no later than the new year

Specifies a latest possible time.

leading up to the new year

Focuses on the period preceding the new year, rather than a specific deadline.

in advance of the new year

Uses more formal language to indicate something happening before the new year.

prior to the new year

Similar to "before the new year", but with a slightly more formal tone.

before January first

Replaces the general term "new year" with the specific date, providing a more precise deadline.

at the turn of the year

Emphasizes the transition point as the year changes.

as the new year approaches

Highlights the period of time as the new year gets closer.

FAQs

What does "by new year" mean?

The phrase "by new year" means that something needs to be completed or achieved before or on New Year's Day. It sets a deadline related to the start of the new year.

How can I use "by new year" in a sentence?

You can use "by new year" to indicate a timeframe. For example, "We aim to have the renovations completed "by new year"." You could also say "before the new year".

What's the difference between "by new year" and "in the new year"?

"By new year" indicates a deadline before or on January 1st. "In the new year" refers to something happening after January 1st. They represent opposite timeframes.

What are some alternatives to using "by new year"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "before January 1st", "prior to the new year", or "by New Year's Day".