by this late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by this late" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression, and without additional context, it is difficult to determine its intended use. Example: "I can't believe you arrived by this late hour."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Arts

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Rodriguez was humble, and clearly overwhelmed by this late resurgence.

The Guardian - Film

By this late date, there could be no doubt: La Scala was Verdi's artistic home.

The New York Times - Arts

By this late date in human civilisation most of us in the safe, rich countries are … bored.

The Guardian

By this late stage in his career, Velázquez understood the rules of portraiture and how to play with them.

The Guardian

Bankhead had by this late point in her career become well-known for her salty tongue and bawdy humor.

The New York Times

As Hyden points out in his Grantland piece, the hatred of Nickelback is, by this late stage, mostly passé and largely misplaced.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Apart from the discontinuity caused by this Late-VL F252 within the Late F252, the linear response to selection in all populations clearly suggests a polygenic basis for flowering time, which we further analysed by estimating the mutational heritability.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

These farmers were significantly less affected by this latest crisis.

The New York Times

Even the actors themselves seemed surprised by this latest twist.

The New York Times

(Presumably this increases the probability of the egg's being fertilized by this latest suitor).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Many of the workers who were squeezed out by this latest contraction have left the state.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "by this late" in formal writing. It's grammatically questionable and can confuse readers. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "at this late stage" or "by this time".

Common error

Don't substitute "by this late" when you really mean "at this late". The correct idiomatic expression is "at this late stage/date/hour", which clearly indicates a point reached in time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by this late" functions as an adverbial phrase, attempting to modify a verb or clause by specifying a point in time. However, its non-standard grammatical structure undermines its effectiveness. Ludwig AI points out that this phrase is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

23%

Arts

12%

Less common in

Books

8%

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by this late" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal writing. Although it appears in various sources, as indicated by Ludwig, its non-standard structure can lead to confusion. Ludwig AI confirms the incorrectness of this expression. Clearer and more precise alternatives such as "at this late stage" or "by this time" should be preferred. While the phrase occurs with some frequency, particularly in news and media contexts, its grammatical issues outweigh any potential benefits of using it. Always opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at this late stage

Replaces "by this late" with a more common and grammatically sound phrase using "at" instead of "by".

at this late date

Similar to the previous phrase, this one uses "date" instead of "stage", emphasizing the timing.

by this time

A more direct and simple way to indicate a specific point in time.

at this point

Focuses on a particular moment in a process or timeline.

so late in the day

More idiomatic, emphasizing that something is happening near the end of a period.

this far along

Highlights the progress made up to the current moment.

by now

A shorter way of saying "by this time", indicating something should have happened.

as of late

Implies a recent trend or pattern.

at this juncture

A more formal way to refer to a specific point in time or a critical moment.

in these latter days

Emphasizes that we are in the final period of something, often with a sense of importance or urgency.

FAQs

What does "by this late" mean?

The phrase "by this late" is not considered standard English. It is often used incorrectly in place of phrases like "at this late stage" or "by this time".

Is "by this late" grammatically correct?

No, "by this late" is not grammatically correct. More appropriate alternatives include "at this late date" or "by now", depending on the intended meaning.

How can I use "at this late stage" in a sentence?

You can use "at this late stage" to indicate a point in time when something is already advanced or near completion. For example, "At this late stage, it's difficult to make significant changes to the plan."

What are some alternatives to "by this time"?

Alternatives to "by this time" include "by now", "at this point", or "as of late", each carrying slightly different nuances related to time.