come by then

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come by then" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to suggest visiting or stopping by at a specific time in the future. Example: "If you're free this weekend, why don't you come by then for a cup of coffee?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

We could all be in kingdom come by then".

The Guardian

But if the recovery still has not come by then, what next?

The Economist

Mr. Christie's advisers asked supporters to wait until at least Wednesday before finding another candidate, which suggested a decision could come by then.

The New York Times

You come by then, if you're interested, and I'll give you the details for the fabrica".

Forbes

Credit, of course, was harder to come by then, and bankruptcy was a stigma that few people were willing to face.

Forbes

Will the answers come by then?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Cats came to my room, Peter Wolf [of the J Geils Band] came to see me, Darryl Jones comes by, then we start to play some Little Richard shit, then in walks Sasha Allen [who sings back-up with the Stones] and before you know it it's eight in the morning and I'm, 'Guys, we've got to knock it off here.' If it was on film it would be hilarious".

The Guardian - Music

You want to put an artificial surface made of leaves or something that blends with vegetation, wait until the target comes by then pull him under and either knock him out with a punch in the neck or hold him hostage with his mouth shut.

WikiHow

Getting richer helps, but the worst-hit countries are those where development has proved hardest to come by.And then there is the pessimist's reading.

The Economist

They sought to come by bus then they got the plane and they arrived in the hotel to have dinner at one o'clock in the morning.

The Guardian - Sport

I just said y'all had come by but then you left".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When planning an event, use "come by then" to clearly communicate the expected arrival time to your audience. For example, "The party starts at 7 PM, but feel free to come by then whenever you're ready."

Common error

Avoid using "come by then" when referring to a past event. The phrase implies a future action, so using it in a past context can confuse the reader. Instead, use "came by then" or rephrase the sentence to reflect the past tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come by then" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It specifies a future point in time by which an action (usually a visit or arrival) should occur. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its use in setting deadlines or suggesting when something will happen.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come by then" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a specific time in the future. Ludwig AI validates this. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Wiki content and has a neutral register, making it suitable for a variety of contexts. While its frequency is uncommon, understanding its proper usage will help ensure clear and effective communication. Remember to avoid using it when referring to past events and consider alternatives like "arrive by that time" or "visit at that point" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arrive by that time

Focuses on arrival at a specific future time.

visit at that point

Emphasizes a visit occurring at the specified future time.

be there by then

Highlights presence at a future time.

get there by that time

Similar to "arrive", but with a slightly less formal tone.

show up by then

Informal way of saying "arrive".

make it by then

Indicates ability to attend by a specific time.

be present by then

Formal way of expressing presence by a certain time.

reach by that time

Implies travel to a destination by a specified time.

attend by then

Suggests participation in an event by a certain time.

appear by that time

Focuses on making an appearance at a specified future time.

FAQs

How can I use "come by then" in a sentence?

Use "come by then" to indicate a future time when someone should visit or arrive. For instance, "If you finish your work early, you can come by then and help me with the decorations."

What is an alternative to "come by then"?

Alternatives include phrases like "arrive by that time", "visit at that point", or "be there by then", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "came by then"?

While "come by then" refers to a future event, "came by then" would refer to something that happened in the past. Ensure you use the correct tense to match the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "come by later" and "come by then"?

"Come by later" indicates an unspecified future time, whereas "come by then" refers to a specific time in the future. For example, "Come by later if you have time," versus "Come by then, after the meeting."