came on time

USAGE SUMMARY

'came on time' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone arriving at an appointed time. For example: "The train came on time and we were able to make our connection."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The police, they say, never came on time, and no one was arrested.

Huffington Post

The man came on time, early even.

The New Yorker

The servers came on time, wearing fine clothing and speaking English.

The New York Times - Travel

She always came on time to our sessions, even in the thick of a Boston blizzard.

The New York Times - Health

On the street outside, people waited at a bus stop for the bus, which never came on time.

The New Yorker

I could walk largely unbothered through the city's winding streets, with their many little retailers, workshops, and café-bars screening "Octopussy".Happily, the rains came on time this year.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

It should be noted that most women have usually come to health clinic by themselves and rather not missed ANC scheduled visits, but they tended not to come on-time as per schedule.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

"It was terrible waiting, you're living one day to the next not knowing if it's going to come on time.

The Guardian

Oh, come on – time travel!

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"A punch card system will make workers come on time".

The New York Times

In the last decade, these rains never come on time.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "came on time" when you want to emphasize that something or someone arrived or happened precisely at the expected or scheduled moment. This implies reliability and adherence to a plan or commitment.

Common error

Avoid using "in time" when you mean "on time". "In time" suggests arriving with just enough time to spare before a deadline or event, while "on time" means arriving at the scheduled moment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "came on time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate when an action occurred. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, supported by numerous examples of its application in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

20%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "came on time" is a common adverbial phrase used to indicate that someone or something arrived or happened at the expected or scheduled moment. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and acceptable for use across various contexts. While widely used, writers should be mindful of differentiating it from similar phrases like "in time". It's prevalent in news, science, and wiki content, as shown by the examples. For alternatives, consider "arrived punctually" or "was right on schedule" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wasn't late

Emphasizes the absence of tardiness.

arrived punctually

Uses a more formal adverb to emphasize adherence to the schedule.

was right on schedule

Focuses on aligning with a predetermined timeline.

turned up as planned

Highlights the fulfillment of an arrangement or expectation.

made it in time

Implies a potential challenge in arriving by the scheduled time.

arrived as expected

Highlights that there weren't any surprises or deviations.

didn't miss the deadline

Shifts focus to meeting a final target or limit.

wasn't delayed

Focuses on the lack of impediments to timely arrival.

clocked in on time

Specifically used in the context of starting work.

kept to the appointed hour

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying "came on time".

FAQs

What does it mean when something "comes on time"?

It means something arrives or happens at the scheduled or expected time. It implies punctuality and adherence to a set timetable.

Which is correct, "in time" or "on time"?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "On time" means arriving at the scheduled time, while "in time" means arriving with enough time to spare before something happens. Make sure you use "on time" to refer to punctuality.

What can I say instead of "came on time"?

You can use alternatives like "arrived punctually", "was right on schedule", or "wasn't late" depending on the context.

How to use "came on time" in a sentence?

Example sentences include: "The delivery came on time" or "She always came on time to our sessions."