how timely

USAGE SUMMARY

"how timely" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to express approval or appreciation for something that has happened at an opportune or convenient time. Example: How timely of the professor to cancel the exam when half the class was sick with the flu.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Part of my research included a test to measure the differences in how timely and late people perceive the passage of time.

Huffington Post

How timely!

The New York Times

O.K, so how timely is this stuff?

The New York Times

"After the anthrax scare, especially," she said in an interview, "I knew how timely a history of biochemical warfare was".

The New York Times - Science

The senior citizen who accosted Thomas last week could not have realised just how timely his reminder was.

The Guardian - Sport

Winer recalls Victoria Nuland, the top official overseeing U.S. policy on Russia, expressing surprise at how timely Steele's reports were.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

This is how many timely selections come to pass, not via inspired insights by omniscient coaches or selectors but happenstance.

The Guardian - Sport

Far more remarkable than Dupuis's hockey ability is the way he got from the remote Nunavik region to Skidmore, and how a timely phone call from a former N.H.L. player changed his path.

The New York Times - Sports

How eerily timely and powerful was that?

Huffington Post

Real-Time Marketing and PR draws on Scott's earlier career as an up-to-the-second Wall Street trader, this book highlights how the timely creation of heart felt content can be more important than long leadtime polished pieces.

Wikipedia

How wonderfully timely on a day when the news was filled with stories about Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency whistle-blower (or traitor, depending on your point of view) who fled his high-security post in Honolulu, high-tailing it to Hong Kong and on to Moscow, leaving a broad trail of damaging leaks along the way.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how timely" to express surprise or appreciation when something happens at a particularly suitable moment. For example, "How timely that the funding was approved just as the project was about to run out of resources."

Common error

Avoid using "how timely" in situations where timing is not a key factor. It's best suited for scenarios where the specific moment something occurs adds significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how timely" functions as an exclamation or a comment expressing appreciation or surprise regarding the auspicious or convenient timing of an event or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase. It often introduces a relative clause expressing an opinion about the moment something occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "how timely" is a versatile expression used to comment on the fortuitous or appropriate timing of an event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct and widely used phrase across various contexts, most notably in News & Media. The phrase conveys a sense of appreciation or recognition that something has occurred at a particularly beneficial or relevant moment. When considering alternatives, "how opportune" and "how appropriate" offer similar connotations. Remember to use "how timely" when the timing itself is a key factor contributing to the significance of the event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how opportune

Focuses on the favorability of the timing.

how appropriate

Emphasizes the suitability of the timing.

how convenient

Highlights the ease and suitability of the timing.

how well-timed

Directly refers to the good timing of an event.

how suitable

Highlights the fitness or appropriateness of the timing for a particular purpose.

how fitting

Emphasizes the appropriateness and harmony of the timing.

how providential

Suggests the timing is fortunate and divinely arranged.

how auspicious

Implies the timing is favorable for success and good fortune.

how strategic

Focuses on the calculated advantage of the timing.

how propitious

Highlights the favorable conditions and timing for a particular outcome.

FAQs

What does "how timely" mean?

The phrase "how timely" expresses surprise or appreciation at the convenient or opportune timing of an event or action. It indicates that something has occurred at a particularly suitable or beneficial moment.

How can I use "how timely" in a sentence?

You can use "how timely" to comment on the fortunate timing of an event. For example: "How timely that the rain stopped just as we were about to start the outdoor concert!"

What can I say instead of "how timely"?

You can use alternatives like "how opportune", "how appropriate", or "how convenient" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "how timely"?

Use "how timely" when you want to highlight the fortuitous or beneficial nature of an event's timing. It's best used when the timing itself contributes to the significance or impact of the event.