in a certain month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in a certain month" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific month without naming it directly, often in contexts where the exact month is not important or is to be determined later. Example: "The project is scheduled to be completed in a certain month, depending on the availability of resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

What you spend might vary wildly, depending on whether you drink at home or at a bar or restaurant, whether your social calendar is packed in a certain month, whether a special occasion ratchets up your purchases.

The New York Times

But if you have one that ends in a certain month then it shouldn't matter whether an official or player speaks out after that".

BBC

It can happen that most of the data in a certain month are obtained when the satellite is under a high-temperature condition, and monthly averaging cannot work for minimizing the temperature effect.

Earth, Planets and Space

The release of each sterilised female resulted in one of three types of event: released in a certain month and not caught a second time; first released in a certain month and caught a second time, after a certain interval, for euthanasia; and first released in a certain month and caught a second time after a certain interval because the ear notch was missed but not caught again.

BMC Veterinary Research

For example, a patient who is registered as inpatient in a certain month may be registered as outpatient in the next month, but never at the same month.

BMC Health Services Research

Seasonality of birth was assessed by modelling the number of cases born in a certain month compared to the total monthly birth population at risk using logistic regression with the inclusion of harmonic curves of 12 and 6 month periods.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

There were two study conditions, and each respondent participated in both in a certain order in May and October (Fig. 5).

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

Suddenly I'm in a situation where here's what I have to write about, and I have to turn in a certain number of pages every month.

The New York Times - Books

BSS needs to consume a certain amount of PV output in a certain time period like a month or a year from bundling PV seller.

Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems

Alonzo Lago sent Archie out alone to gather any bovine wanderers he could find in a certain washout area, swampy in June but now made up of hundreds of deep holes and snaky little streams smoothly covered with snow.

The New Yorker

I wholeheartedly agreed with Michele Hanson's article about giving children ambitious opportunities in music (A certain age, 15 December).

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in a certain month" when you want to refer to a specific month without explicitly naming it, particularly when the exact month is either unknown or unimportant to the context.

Common error

While "in a certain month" is grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound vague. If the specific month is known, consider naming it directly for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in a certain month" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action occurs. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase indicates a temporal context without specifying the exact month.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in a certain month" is a grammatically correct and usable way to refer to a specific month without naming it directly. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. While it appears across various contexts like news and science, it's crucial to avoid overuse and consider naming the month explicitly when clarity is paramount. Alternatives like "during a specific month" or "in a particular month" offer similar meanings, allowing writers to fine-tune their phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during a specific month

Emphasizes the time frame being limited to one particular month.

in a particular month

Highlights that the month is distinct and noteworthy.

within a given month

Stresses that the month is already pre-determined or known.

in a specified month

Suggests that the month is precisely indicated or identified.

during one month

Focuses on the duration being exactly one month long.

in some month

Indicates that the month is indefinite or unknown.

one month of the year

Highlights that the month is part of the annual cycle.

in any month

Suggests that the month is not restricted or predetermined.

on a monthly basis

Emphasizes the regularity or recurrence of something within a month.

each month

Indicates that something happens every month.

FAQs

How can I use "in a certain month" in a sentence?

You can use "in a certain month" to refer to a specific month without naming it, as in, "The data will be collected "in a certain month", depending on weather conditions."

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

Alternatives include "during a specific month", "in a particular month", or "within a given month". The choice depends on the nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "in a certain month" instead of naming the month?

Use "in a certain month" when the exact month is unknown, irrelevant, or will be determined later. For example, "We plan to launch the product "in a certain month" after regulatory approval."

Is it more formal to say "in a certain month" or "during a specific month"?

Both phrases are relatively neutral in formality. "During a specific month" might sound slightly more formal due to the use of "specific", but the difference is minimal.