during December

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during December" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something occurs within the month of December. Example: "The festival takes place during December." Alternative expressions include "in December" and "throughout December."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

The Detroit automakers all reported increases during December.

The New York Times

The Knicks were 5-9 Decemberecembut, but Kurt Thomas said, "It seems a lot worse".

The New York Times - Sports

And for the first time since 2002, the index failed to gain ground during December.

The Guardian - Business

Nashay said that during December, her neighbors "skip out for the holidays.

The New Yorker

Before you click on the Buy button, though, check for last-minute specials during December.

The New York Times - Tech

That rose by 1percentt during December and January, to $495,000.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

The lake is frozen during December to March.

Geochemical Transactions

In the study area, feeding opportunities for grazing buffaloes are limited during December through March.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

The monthly occurrence of flares was highest during December 2006.

Earth, Planets and Space

The X class flares occurred only during December 2006.

Earth, Planets and Space

The effect of electric field on irregularities during December 2015 storm was insignificant.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying an event or activity that occurs at multiple times within December, use "during December" to encompass the entire period. For example, "The store offers special promotions during December."

Common error

Avoid using "during December" when referring to a single event on a specific date. Instead, use "on December [date]" or "in December" for a less precise reference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during December" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. According to Ludwig, it specifies the time frame in which an action or event occurs, indicating that something takes place at some point within the month of December.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "during December" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that specifies a time frame within the month of December. As Ludwig AI explains, it serves primarily to provide temporal context, indicating when an action or event occurs. It's considered appropriate for neutral to formal contexts, appearing often in news, scientific literature, and general writing. While very similar to "in December", it subtly emphasizes the temporal duration. When writing, ensure that "during December" is used to describe an event occurring at some point within the month, rather than a single event on a specific date.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in December

This alternative is a shorter, more common prepositional phrase indicating the same time frame.

throughout December

This alternative emphasizes the entire duration of the month, rather than just a point within it.

all December

This alternative is less formal and highlights the entire month as a single continuous period.

the month of December

This alternative is more descriptive and emphasizes the entire month as a specific timeframe.

over December

This alternative suggests that something happened across the period of December.

within December

This alternative is less common but still grammatically correct, meaning something happens inside the month.

December period

This alternative uses the word "period" to indicate the length of time.

December timeframe

This alternative uses the word "timeframe" to indicate the length of time.

December only

This alternative describes that the duration is limited to only December.

during the course of December

This alternative is a more elaborate way of saying "during December", adding emphasis on the time period.

FAQs

What is the difference between "in December" and "during December"?

"In December" is generally used to indicate a point in time within the month, while "during December" implies a duration or period throughout the month. They are often interchangeable but "during December" emphasizes the temporal extent.

Can I use "throughout December" instead of "during December"?

Yes, "throughout December" is a good alternative to "during December". It emphasizes that something happens continuously or repeatedly during the entire month.

Is it correct to say "in the December" instead of "in December"?

No, it is not correct to say "in the December". The correct preposition to use with December is "in", as in "in December".

What prepositions are commonly used with months like December?

The most common prepositions used with months are "in" and "during". For example, you can say "in December" or "during December". "On" is used with specific dates, such as "on December 25th".