in a month when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in a month when" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a specific month in which a particular event or situation occurs. Example: "In a month when the weather is typically warm, we plan to hold the outdoor festival."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He set a new career high for hits in a month when he had forty hits in August, second in the major leagues.

Wikipedia

Well continued their good form, with McCall winning the award again in October, alongside player of the month Keith Lasley, in a month when the side went unbeaten.

Wikipedia

You can typically get more done in a month when you plan for less.

Harvard Business Review

Why celebrate rebirth in a month, when I can anticipate relief right now?

The New York Times

Mr Peretz's day of reckoning will come in a month, when his Labour party holds its leadership election.

The Economist

In a month when forward-thinking folk records are falling from the rafters, this one sounds like nothing else.

The Guardian - Music

The shutdown cost them 50percentt of their business in a month when business is traditionally slowest, Jansen said.

The Washington Post

Retail lost 1,100 over the month, a surprise drop in a month when retail jobs usually start picking up.

The Guardian - Business

But, he added, these involved only a handful of flights in a month when most US Airways flights operated in good weather.

The New York Times

The increase in borrowing came in a month when Americans cut back on consumer spending, reflecting in part disruptions from Hurricane Sandy.

The New York Times

The Moody's announcement boosted Spanish financing costs in a month when it faces the largest debt redemptions for the rest of the year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in a month when" to provide context or explain why something happened during a specific time period, connecting the event to a broader trend or situation. For example, "In a month when tourism typically declines, the city saw an unexpected surge in visitors due to a major conference."

Common error

Avoid using "in a month when" repetitively within the same piece of writing. Over-reliance on this phrase can make your writing sound monotonous. Vary your sentence structure by using alternative phrases or rephrasing to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in a month when" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a relative clause. It provides temporal context by specifying a particular month defined by concurrent events or conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its usability through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in a month when" is a common and grammatically correct way to provide temporal context, linking events to specific monthly conditions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various sources, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "during the month that" exist, it's essential to avoid overuse and vary sentence structure for engaging writing. Remember to use the phrase to explain or provide context, connecting the event to a broader trend or situation. While generally neutral, the formality can shift based on the surrounding text. Ludwig shows that this phrase is helpful for explanatory and descriptive contexts, making it a versatile tool for writers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during a month that

This alternative replaces the preposition "in" with "during" and uses a relative pronoun, slightly changing the sentence structure.

during the month that

Swaps "in" for "during" and adds "the" for a slightly different emphasis on the specific month.

in a month in which

This option provides a more formal and grammatically structured alternative.

in a month where

Using "where" instead of "when" provides a less formal, but still acceptable, alternative.

in a month characterized by

This option specifies that the month is defined or marked by certain attributes or occurrences.

in the same month that

Adding "same" stresses the simultaneity of the month and the event described.

in a month seeing

Using "seeing" offers a dynamic perspective, highlighting events that occur during the month.

in a month noted for

This variation emphasizes that the month is famous or significant due to certain events.

in the month of

This option replaces "a month when" with a reference to a calendar month, which is less flexible if the aim is not to refer to a calendar month.

during a period when

This broadens the timeframe from a specific month to a more general period.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "in a month when" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "during the month that" or "in a month in which". These options offer a more structured and sophisticated feel.

Is it grammatically correct to use "where" instead of "when" in the phrase "in a month when"?

While less formal, using "in a month where" is generally acceptable in casual contexts. However, "when" is more grammatically precise as it refers to time, whereas "where" refers to place.

What are some alternatives to "in a month when" that don't focus on a specific month?

If you want to broaden the timeframe, try using phrases like "during a period when" or "in a time when". These options are suitable when the exact month isn't crucial to the context.

How does "in a month when" differ from "during the month of"?

"In a month when" focuses on events or conditions occurring within a month, providing context, while "during the month of" typically refers to a specific calendar month. For example, "in a month when tourism declines" versus "during the month of January".