existing at that time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "existing at that time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that was present or relevant during a specific period in the past. Example: "The documents from the meeting reflected the policies existing at that time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Nor is there any necessary connection between personal identity and personal survival, according to Parfit, because it is possible to have the latter without the former (that is, it is possible for an individual to survive into a future time without being the same person as anyone existing at that time).

Encyclopedia Britannica

This radar was the last of the large dedicated instruments for measuring electron densities in the lower ionosphere (see Belrose 1970 for a summary of instruments existing at that time).

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

I was shocked to learn that since I was born in 1971, we, as humans, have managed to destroy one-third of the flora and fauna existing at that time".

Vice

This recommendation therefore was in essence, the mirror image of the funding situations existing at that time.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Due to the little knowledge about the actual biological miRNA pathway in Apicomplexa existing at that time, this network should be recomputed once enough experimental evidence becomes available.

Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Because biological drugs have mostly been used in cases of aggressive, DMARD-resistant RA, the result is probably explained by permanent joint damage existing at the time that biological drugs were initiated.

Acta Orthopaedica

Indeed, AtATR drives the stabilization of CYCB1 1 in the atm and WT meristematic zone after IR [140], indicating that proteins existing at the time of IR are immediately regulated, and likely explains the similarity of prematurely differentiated cells in WT and atm.

Plosone

Even more absurd, opponents acknowledged that the petitions were in the correct font size, but that only fonts existing at the time of printer's used old printer blocks before computers could be used on petitions.

Huffington Post

Class II-V punctuational theories of evolution predict that common species are young species, still evolutionarily plastic or having recently lost their plasticity, that still live under conditions similar to those existing at the time of their origination.

Biology Direct

Birol said the IEA's previous forecasts for hydropower and wind power had been correct and that solar projections were based on the government support existing at the time.

The Guardian

The fate of a President, Bayh wrote later, is "really a political question" that should rest on the "professional judgment of the political circumstances existing at the time".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing historical accounts or analyses, use "existing at that time" to clearly indicate the presence or state of something during the specified period. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity regarding the timeline.

Common error

Avoid using "existing at that time" when the existence of something is already implied within the context. Redundancy can make your writing seem less concise. For instance, if you're describing laws in 19th-century England, it's often unnecessary to specify "existing at that time" unless contrasting with later periods.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "existing at that time" functions as a qualifying prepositional phrase, modifying a noun by specifying when something was in existence. Ludwig examples confirm that the phrase serves to anchor the existence of a subject to a particular historical moment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "existing at that time" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase used to specify the temporal context of something's existence. Ludwig AI analysis, supported by real-world examples, indicates that while it is not exceedingly common, it is frequently employed across academic, scientific, and news contexts. For more concise alternatives, consider using "present then" or "available then", but be mindful of potential nuances in meaning. Remember to use the phrase judiciously to avoid redundancy and improve the clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in existence at that time

More explicitly states the state of being.

present at that time

Replaces "existing" with "present", emphasizing the presence rather than the existence.

then existing

Inverts the word order for a slightly different emphasis.

available at that time

Focuses on availability rather than general existence.

that existed then

Rearranges the phrase to place emphasis on the past existence.

prevalent at that time

Emphasizes widespread presence or common occurrence.

current at that time

Highlights that something was up-to-date or in effect during that period.

in effect at that time

Specifically indicates that a rule, law, or system was operational.

operative at that time

Implies that something was functioning or in force.

existing back then

More informal alternative using "back then" instead of "at that time".

FAQs

How can I use "existing at that time" in a sentence?

You can use "existing at that time" to specify that something was present or in effect during a particular period. For example: "The regulations "existing at that time" were different from those of today."

What is a formal alternative to "existing at that time"?

A more formal alternative could be "prevalent during that era" or "operative at that juncture", depending on the specific context.

Is "existing at that time" redundant?

It can be, if the time frame is already clear from the context. However, it adds clarity when distinguishing conditions between different periods.

What's the difference between "existing at that time" and "available at that time"?

"Existing at that time" refers to the presence of something, while "available at that time" implies that something was not only present but also accessible or usable.