in January

USAGE SUMMARY

'in January' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happened in the month of January. For example: I started my new job in January.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Premium Beef in January.

The New York Times

Sales started in January.

The New York Times

In January, the presiding….

The New Yorker

Burnam died in January.

The New York Times

Classes started in January.

The New York Times

Even in January.

The New York Times

In January, the I.M.F.

The New York Times

They closed in January.

The New York Times

It ended in January.

The New York Times

Cooper died in January.

The New York Times - Sports

That was in February.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is needed, follow "in January" with a specific date, for example, "in January 2025, on January 15".

Common error

Avoid using "in January" without specifying the year when the context requires clarity. Failing to provide the year can lead to confusion if the event happened in a past or future January.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in January" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause by specifying when an action or event takes place. As Ludwig AI illustrates, it indicates the timing of various occurrences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in January" is a common and grammatically correct way to specify that something happens during the month of January. According to Ludwig, it functions as an adverbial phrase of time, providing essential temporal context. With a neutral register, it's suitable for various forms of communication, especially in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific contexts. While simple, remember to include the year when necessary to avoid ambiguity. Ludwig AI indicates it's a perfectly usable phrase in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

January of [year]

Adds the year for context, clarifying which January is being referenced.

in the month of January

A slightly more formal and verbose way to express the same idea.

during January

Replaces the preposition "in" with "during", emphasizing the duration throughout the month.

throughout January

Similar to "during January", highlighting events that occur continuously or repeatedly during the entire month.

the first month of the year

A more descriptive way to refer to January.

at the beginning of the year

Generalizes the timeframe to the start of the year, rather than specifying January.

early in the year

A broader reference to the early months of the year, not limited to January.

on January [date]

Specifies a particular day within January, adding more precision.

by January

Indicates a deadline or point in time that must be reached before or during January.

around January

Refers to a period close to January, possibly including late December or early February.

FAQs

How do I use "in January" in a sentence?

"In January" is used to indicate that something occurs during the month of January. For example, "The conference will be held "in January"." You can also specify the year, such as "The conference will be held "in January 2025"".

What are some alternatives to saying "in January"?

Alternatives include "during January", "throughout January", or "early in the year". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it necessary to specify the year when using "in January"?

It depends on the context. If the year is already clear or implied, specifying it isn't always necessary. However, for clarity, especially when referring to past or future events, including the year is recommended.

What's the difference between "in January" and "on January [date]"?

"In January" refers to the entire month, while "on January [date]" refers to a specific date within January. For example, "The project starts "in January"" means it will begin sometime during the month, whereas "The meeting is "on January 15th"" specifies a precise date.