date of composition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "date of composition" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the date of a piece of work or literature, such as a song, poem, play, novel, or speech. For example, "John wrote his first novel in 1981, so its date of composition is 1981."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

The date of composition?

The Guardian

Eventually, they were able to determine a poem's date of composition within ten years.

The New Yorker

There is also wide disagreement as to the date of composition.

Britannica

Its author had almost certainly written "The Night Before Christmas" — the diction, metre, topic, and date of composition were too close to be coincidental.

The New Yorker

The date of composition is a matter of guesswork, as the play is entirely undocumented: no records of performance, no early quarto edition.

The Guardian

The date of composition for the core of early Epic Sanskrit is considered to be in the centuries just preceding the Common Era.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Their precise dates of composition are in most cases uncertain.

Britannica

On the last page of "The Museum of Innocence," Pamuk reveals the dates of composition: 2001-2, 2003-8.

The New York Times - Books

The dates of composition, 1889 to 1891, look like a misprint, but they aren't.

The New Yorker

An account of the genesis, dates of composition, and publication of each series is followed by reading texts, including all available variants.

Cornell University

Despite the uncertainty of its dates of composition, "Illuminations" is quite clearly written after Rimbaud's most defiant and scurrilous phase had passed.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing creative works, specify the "date of composition" to provide historical context and avoid confusion with publication dates. This is particularly helpful when comparing works across different periods.

Common error

Avoid assuming the "date of composition" is always the same as the publication date. Research the actual creation timeline to ensure accuracy, especially for posthumous works or those with long development cycles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "date of composition" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as a subject complement or an adjectival modifier. It identifies a specific point in time related to a creative work's creation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

26%

News & Media

24%

Encyclopedias

19%

Less common in

Wiki

14%

Science

9%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "date of composition" is a grammatically sound and commonly used term to indicate when a piece of work was created. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is particularly important in academic, historical, and literary contexts for providing context and clarity. While its register is generally neutral to formal, it appears most frequently in academic and media sources. When using this phrase, it's essential to distinguish it from the "date of publication" and to ensure that the composition date is accurately researched to prevent confusion. Related phrases, such as "time of creation", can be used for variety while maintaining semantic similarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

time of creation

Replaces "date" with the more general term "time" and "composition" with "creation."

year of writing

Specifies the form of composition to be a written work and uses "year" instead of "date."

period of origination

Replaces "date" with "period" to indicate a range rather than a specific point in time and replaces "composition" with "origination."

point of origin

Focuses on the starting point or beginning of the composition process.

time of authorship

Highlights the author's role in the creation process.

genesis date

Uses "genesis" to refer to the origin or beginning, implying creation.

era of conception

Refers to the time when the idea or concept was formed.

historical context

Emphasizes the historical environment in which the work was created.

production timeline

Highlights the sequence of events during which the work was composed.

age of development

Indicates the period during which the work was developed or evolved.

FAQs

How can I use "date of composition" in a sentence?

You can use "date of composition" to specify when a work was created, for example: "The "date of composition" for this symphony is believed to be 1788." or "Scholars disagree about the precise "date of composition" of the manuscript".

What's the difference between "date of composition" and "date of publication"?

The "date of composition" refers to when a work was created, while the "date of publication" refers to when it was released to the public. A work might be composed years before it is published.

Are there other ways to say "date of composition"?

Yes, you could use phrases like "time of creation", "year of writing" or "period of origination" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the context.

Why is knowing the "date of composition" important?

Knowing the "date of composition" helps contextualize a work within its historical and cultural context, aiding in understanding its themes, influences, and significance. It can also help differentiate between the author's original intent and later interpretations.