by this evening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by this evening" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate a deadline or to refer to any time before the evening. For example, "I need to finish this project by this evening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In fact, even being generous and projecting that Canonical manages to nab an even $10 million by this evening (unlikely), that gives it two weeks to raise an additional $24 million, which works out to $1.7 million per day.

TechCrunch

It will be open by this evening.

The Guardian

There were no arrests by this evening.

The New York Times

Indeed, by this evening, Israeli reprisals had already begun.

The New York Times

No arrests had been made by this evening.

The New York Times

But if you could come by this evening......

The New Yorker

The ship is due to be upright by this evening.

The Guardian

By this evening, Turkish officials said they had received no answer from the Americans.

The New York Times

But by this evening, Mr. Bush's aides were no longer talking that way.

The New York Times

Mr. Freeman solicited new proposals for contracts to be submitted by this evening.

The New York Times

By this evening, no one had claimed responsibility for the blasts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by this evening" to set a clear expectation for task completion or event occurrence within the specified timeframe. This specificity helps avoid ambiguity compared to less precise terms like "later today".

Common error

Avoid using "by this evening" when a more specific time is known or required. If a meeting is scheduled for 7 PM, state "by 7 PM" instead of "by this evening" to prevent any misunderstanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by this evening" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to specify a deadline or timeframe. Ludwig indicates this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by this evening" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to specify a timeframe or deadline occurring before nightfall. According to Ludwig, the phrase is deemed grammatically correct. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it serves to set clear expectations for task completion or event occurrence. While versatile, specificity is crucial, and other alternatives like "before the end of the day" or "later today" exist for varying levels of formality and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no later than this evening

Adds emphasis on the deadline.

before the end of the day

More general, implying completion before the day concludes, not specifically the evening.

later today

Less precise, indicating sometime during the remaining part of the current day.

before the evening is out

Emphasizes that the action should occur before the evening concludes.

by nightfall

More poetic or dramatic, tied to the onset of darkness.

prior to this evening

A more formal alternative, useful in written communication.

tonight

Simplest and most direct, referring to the current evening.

by the close of business

More formal, typically used in a professional context.

by the time evening arrives

Slightly more elaborate, emphasizing the point in time when evening begins.

before the sun sets

More figurative, focusing on the setting sun as a marker.

FAQs

How can I use "by this evening" in a sentence?

You can use "by this evening" to indicate a deadline or expected time of completion. For example, "Please submit your reports by this evening".

What is a more formal alternative to "by this evening"?

A more formal alternative would be /s/"prior to this evening" or "before the close of business" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "by tonight" or "by this evening"?

Both "by tonight" and "by this evening" are acceptable, but "by this evening" might be slightly more precise if you want to emphasize the timeframe before night truly begins. The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

What's the difference between "by this afternoon" and "by this evening"?

"By this afternoon" refers to the period between noon and the end of the afternoon, while "by this evening" indicates the period before nightfall. Therefore, they specify different timeframes within the same day.