during the debate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during the debate" is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to refer to an event or discussion that takes place over a period of time. For example: "The candidates discussed their policies during the debate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Anna grew anxious during the debate.

The New York Times

There were also moments of levity during the debate.

The Guardian

Hinojosa tried to find a middle ground during the debate.

The New Yorker

You really can't," Trump said during the debate, in Charleston.

The Guardian

Clinton made no mention of Trump's sniffles during the debate.

The Guardian

This was Erickson's principal argument during the debate.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It ain't complicated," Sanders said during the debate.

The New Yorker

Expect all of them to come up during the debate.

The New York Times

The personhood proposal didn't come up during the debate.

The New York Times

Look for him to continue that theme during the debate.

The New York Times

It's something to think about during the debate this evening.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "during the debate" to clearly indicate that an action or statement occurred within the timeframe of a specific debate.

Common error

Avoid using "during the debate" when the context doesn't clearly establish which debate you are referring to. Ensure the debate is explicitly mentioned or easily understood from the surrounding text.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during the debate" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. Ludwig shows it modifies verbs or clauses, indicating when an action or event took place in relation to a specific debate. For example, "He alternated during the debate between scolding Mr. Green and delivering ponderous pronouncements."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science & Research

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "during the debate" is a grammatically sound and very common prepositional phrase used to provide temporal context, indicating when an event occurred in relation to a specific debate. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. The primary context is in News & Media, followed by Formal & Business settings. Related phrases include "in the course of the debate" and "throughout the debate". When using "during the debate", ensure the debate is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In the course of the debate

A more formal way of saying "during the debate".

Throughout the debate

Highlights the continuous nature of the event across the entire debate.

While the debate was ongoing

Emphasizes the concurrent nature of the event with the debate.

As the debate unfolded

Suggests a sense of progression and development during the debate.

As the debate progressed

Focuses on the development of the debate as the context for the action.

Amidst the debate

Implies that the event happened in the middle of a possibly chaotic debate.

In the middle of the debate

Highlights that something occurred at the midpoint of the debate.

During the discussion

Replaces "debate" with a more general term for a formal conversation.

At the time of the debate

Focuses on a specific point in time coinciding with the debate.

While debating

Changes the structure to a participial phrase.

FAQs

How can I use "during the debate" in a sentence?

You can use "during the debate" to specify when something occurred within a debate, for instance, "The candidate made a controversial statement "during the debate"".

What are some alternatives to saying "during the debate"?

Alternatives include phrases like "in the course of the debate", "throughout the debate", or "as the debate unfolded", each offering a slightly different nuance.

Is it ever incorrect to use "during the debate"?

It's generally correct, but ensure the context makes it clear which debate you're referencing. Avoid using it if the debate isn't clearly established or is ambiguous.

What's the difference between "during the debate" and "after the debate"?

"During the debate" indicates an event happened within the debate itself, while "after the debate" refers to something that occurred following its conclusion.