improper timing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "improper timing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where an action or event occurs at an inappropriate or inconvenient moment. Example: "The announcement of the merger was met with criticism due to its improper timing, as it coincided with a major company crisis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

With Onavo Lite, Android users are alerted when an app suddenly consumes data at a disproportionate rate, or at improper timing, for example when traveling.

TechCrunch

Internal timing within Javascript captured the display durations, which was used to screen out computers with improper timing (however, no participants were excluded for this reason).

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Improper timing of sales is the biggest offense borrowing from the next quarter in a desperate effort to make the analysts happy for this quarter.

Forbes

Reasons for ineffective LV pacing include improper timing (i.e. pseudofusion) or inadequate pacing output.

Europace

For permanent fusion, accurate timing of the surgery is crucial because improper timing can lead to over- or undercorrection [ 3].

BioMed Research International

114 115 Light deficiency, whether due to improper timing, suboptimal spectrum or insufficient intensity, may contribute to medical conditions commonly assumed to be age-related inevitabilities.

British Journal of Ophthalmology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Evergreen Investment Management and its affiliates have agreed to pay $32.5 million to settle charges of improper market timing, the Securities and Exchange Commission said yesterday.

The New York Times

The following day, the state of Massachusetts filed charges of fraud against five former employees of Prudential Securities Bostonn office, also for allegedly improper market timing.

The Economist

In the fallout from the industry scandals, regulators are scrutinizing fund directors for possible culpability in improper market timing and late trading, and are writing new rules to ensure that independent directors are not rubber stamps for management.

The New York Times

Several of these factors, such as improper application, timing, and removal of excess blood (61), have been mitigated or eliminated by advances in technology.

Diabetes Care

Putnam has conceded that other employees also engaged in improper market-timing, quick in-and-out trades of the company's mutual funds.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For formal contexts, favor synonyms like "inopportune moment" or "ill-timed instance" to maintain a professional tone. News and Media could require use of simple alternatives like "wrong moment".

Common error

Avoid using "improper timing" when you mean a mistake in the duration or speed of something. "Improper timing" refers to an action happening at the wrong moment, not to errors in the rate or pace of something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improper timing" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig's examples show it describing situations where actions occur at an unsuitable or inappropriate moment, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "improper timing" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe events occurring at an unsuitable moment. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While not exceptionally common, it is versatile across neutral to formal registers. It's frequently found in science, news, and academic contexts. When using the phrase, consider the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey and opt for synonyms when a more precise term is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inopportune moment

Emphasizes the lack of suitability or appropriateness of the specific occasion.

ill-timed instance

Focuses on the poor or unfortunate nature of the timing.

poorly timed event

Highlights the inadequate or unfortunate timing of the occurrence.

untimely occurrence

Stresses the inappropriateness of the moment when something happens.

badly timed situation

Indicates a situation made worse by its unfortunate timing.

awkward juncture

Highlights the difficult or uncomfortable nature of the timing.

inconvenient moment

Emphasizes the trouble or difficulty caused by the timing.

mistimed action

Focuses on the error or mistake in the timing of a particular action.

unfavorable timing

Emphasizes that the timing is not conducive to success or positive outcomes.

wrong moment

Simplest and most direct way to indicate inappropriateness in timing.

FAQs

How can I use "improper timing" in a sentence?

You can use "improper timing" to describe a situation where something happens at an inappropriate or inconvenient moment. For example: "The project failed due to the "improper timing" of its launch".

What's a more formal synonym for "improper timing"?

Alternatives such as "inopportune moment" or "ill-timed instance" can be used in more formal contexts to convey a similar meaning while maintaining a professional tone.

What is the difference between "improper timing" and "bad timing"?

"Improper timing" often implies a more significant error or misjudgment, while "bad timing" can refer to a simple, unfortunate coincidence. The choice depends on the degree of negativity or fault you wish to emphasize.

Which is correct: "the improper timing" or "improper timing"?

Both can be correct depending on the context. "Improper timing" is generally used to describe the concept in general, while "the improper timing" refers to a specific instance. For example: "Improper timing can lead to failure," versus "The "improper timing" of the announcement caused confusion".