establish a date

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "establish a date" is used in written English and can be used in a variety of contexts.
For example, you could say: "Let's establish a date for our meeting so that we can make sure everyone can attend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Despite some of the continuing Republican reservations, General Petraeus's testimony clearly stiffened Republican resolve against any effort to legislatively establish a date for a troop withdrawal.

The New York Times

"The event happens on Valentine's Day, and when they go to court to establish a date for his trial, they accidentally end up in court on Reeva's birthday," he said.

The New Yorker

We should establish a date – perhaps 21 January 2017 – after which any telecommunications operator doing business in the US and facilitating illegal listening should be subject to ordinary civil liability.

The Guardian - Tech

As al-Megrahi committed his offence almost 20 years ago it would be relatively straightforward to establish a date which would exclude him but would enable other Libyan nationals imprisoned in the UK to seek transfer.

The Guardian

The debate about whether foundations should exist in perpetuity or establish a date to sunset and spend all their money by then has grown in the last several years, especially in the wake of the stock market's collapse, which severely reduced foundation assets.

The New York Times

The date was the result of several weeks of negotiations between political groups to establish a date for the first election since the popular uprising which brought about the fall of Mr Ben Ali, forced to cede power on 14 January after 23 years in power.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

In a counterbalance to the mini-surge, Obama wisely establishes a date for genuine withdrawal in 2011.

The New York Times

Start by establishing a date, time, budget, location and venue for the meeting, and contemplating which professional speakers can service both the industry and area.

Huffington Post

What remains is establishing a date to transfer "physical possession" of certain items to the late actor's wife and children, according to court documents.

Los Angeles Times

Instead, investors will be asked to approve several housekeeping amendments, including changing the parent company's name to 21st Century Fox from News Corp. News Corp. has not established a date for the split to be effective.

Los Angeles Times

The U.S. EPA has refrained from establishing a date by which aircraft would be required to use unleaded fuel [AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) ePublishing staff 2010].

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "establish a date", ensure that the context clearly indicates what event or activity the date is being established for. For example, "establish a date for the project deadline."

Common error

Avoid using "establish a date" without specifying the purpose or context. This can lead to confusion or ambiguity. Instead of saying "We need to establish a date", clarify with "We need to establish a date for the conference call".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "establish a date" functions as a verb phrase where "establish" acts as a transitive verb, taking "a date" as its direct object. It expresses the action of setting or determining a specific date for an event, meeting, or deadline, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "establish a date" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for setting a specific time for an event or activity. Ludwig's examples indicate that while it's not as frequent as alternatives like "set a date", it remains a versatile option across news, scientific, and general contexts. The phrase functions as a verb phrase, aiming to bring clarity and structure to future plans. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is valid and useful in different communication environments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

set a date

Replaces "establish" with the more common synonym "set".

determine a date

Substitutes "establish" with "determine", focusing on the act of finding out the date.

fix a date

Uses "fix" instead of "establish", implying a more definitive and settled arrangement.

schedule a date

Emphasizes the act of scheduling, which is to plan something for a particular date.

arrange a date

Focuses on the arrangement or planning aspect of setting a date.

agree on a date

Highlights the element of mutual agreement when choosing a date.

nominate a date

Suggests proposing a date for consideration or approval.

decide on a date

Replaces "establish" with "decide on", focusing on the decision-making process.

define a date

Emphasizes the act of clearly defining or specifying a date.

stipulate a date

Implies specifying a date as a condition or requirement.

FAQs

How can I use "establish a date" in a sentence?

You can use "establish a date" to indicate the act of setting a specific date for an event or task. For instance, "Let's establish a date for our next meeting" or "The committee needs to establish a date for the fundraising event."

What can I say instead of "establish a date"?

You can use alternatives like "set a date", "determine a date", or "fix a date" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "establish a date" or "set a date"?

Both "establish a date" and "set a date" are grammatically correct and widely used. "Set a date" is slightly more common, but "establish a date" can add a touch of formality.

What is the difference between "establish a date" and "schedule a date"?

"Establish a date" refers to the act of setting or determining a specific date, while "schedule a date" implies the act of planning an event for a particular date and time. "Establish" focuses on the selection of the date, while "schedule" focuses on the arrangement of the event.