in a certain day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in a certain day" is not correct in standard written English.
You might be trying to refer to a specific day, but the phrase is awkward and not commonly used. Example: "We will meet in a certain day to discuss the project details."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Energy output in a certain day, which is shown in Fig. 3, is assumed based on the predicted data in [38].

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

At the September 30th briefing, for example, he responded to one fusillade by saying, "Maybe you guys should huddle, maybe come up with one premise that we'll at least test for one day, rather than contradicting in a certain day multiple premises".

The New Yorker

Remember that when there is unexpected makeup class or when you and your classmates have something to do in a certain day, like group projects or group research, you should inform the manager as early as possible regarding your problem.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

A classic example was in a certain Sunday supplement this weekend, one that frequently peddles the sort of crackpot diets – juicing, fasting, etc – you might expect to read about in a health-food shop's free leaflet, not a national newspaper.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So I was a little disconcerted to read the other week in a certain Sunday newspaper that AA Gill deems tights "a turn-off", claiming they make a lady's legs look like "vacuum-pressed ham".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

After hospital approval, the caregivers of each ward included in the survey were interviewed once on a certain day fixed in advance.

BMC Palliative Care

For example, he sought out photographs in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library that had been taken on a certain day in May , 1963 and that show the President's back turned.

The New Yorker

"On a certain day in September, selected by my grandmother for its auspiciousness, I bought an exercise book and wrote the first line of a novel," Mr. Narayan remembered in his memoir "My Days" (1974).

The New York Times - Books

That toy really had been rebooted — instead of the faces of congressmen in Utah, King can, with a flick of his wrist, conjure up pictures of soldiers killed on a certain day in Kandahar.

The New Yorker

Who can know what the weather was like on a certain day in 1810, or what the mist looked like as it rose over the corpse-strewn battlefield at Appomattox? Conjuring the city of Smyrna in 1922, I couldn't help feeling that I was being insincere with the reader.

The Guardian - Books

It would hover contentedly every day, all day long, until a certain day in autumn when it would fly away.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "in a certain day", opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "on a specific day" or "on a particular day" to ensure your writing is easily understood and maintains a professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "in" when referring to a specific day. The correct preposition to use is "on". For example, say "on a specific day" instead of "in a certain day".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in a certain day" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to specify a particular day. However, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights that the correct preposition is "on", not "in", rendering this phrase non-standard in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in a certain day" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect. The proper preposition to use when referring to a specific day is "on", not "in". While the intent is to specify an action or event occurring on a particular day, the incorrect grammar undermines clarity. Therefore, alternatives like "on a specific day" or "on a particular day" are recommended for grammatically sound and clear communication. Although some examples exist, it's crucial to prioritize grammatical correctness to maintain credibility and clarity in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a specific day

Replaces "certain" with "specific" and adjusts the preposition for standard usage.

on a particular day

Uses "particular" instead of "certain", providing a slightly more formal tone.

on one specific day

Adds "one" for emphasis, highlighting a single, defined day.

on some specific day

Uses "some" to indicate a non-identified but particular day.

on a given day

Replaces "certain" with "given", implying a day already known or under consideration.

on that particular day

Uses "that" to refer to a day previously mentioned or understood.

on the day in question

Emphasizes that the day is being discussed or investigated.

on a set day

Suggests a day that has been pre-arranged or scheduled.

at a precise time on a day

Focuses on the time within a specific day, adding detail.

at some point during the day

Shifts the focus to an unspecified time within the day, broadening the scope.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "in a certain day"?

While "in a certain day" is not standard English, you can use alternatives like "on a specific day", "on a particular day", or "on a given day" depending on the context.

Is "in a certain day" grammatically correct?

No, "in a certain day" is not grammatically correct. The correct preposition to use when referring to a specific day is "on", not "in".

How can I use "on a specific day" in a sentence?

You can use "on a specific day" to indicate a particular day when something will happen. For example, "The event will be held on a specific day in June."

What's the difference between "in a certain day" and "on a certain day"?

The phrase "in a certain day" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "on a certain day" (or better, on a specific day) which specifies that an event or action will take place on a particular, though perhaps unspecified, day.