in an era

USAGE SUMMARY

"in an era" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to a specific period of time, either a long or a brief one. For example: "In an era of advanced technology, smartphones have become commonplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The '90s ushered in an era known as "Cool Britannia".

Huffington Post

In an era.

The New Yorker

Well, we live in an era of "people's choice".

The New York Times

"We are in an era of creative destruction," he said.

The New Yorker

Under Putin, we live in an era of cowardice".

The New York Times - Books

Third, realize that we're in an era of increased transparency.

The Guardian

That can be a challenge in an era of oversharing.

The New York Times

"We live in an era of man-made climate change.

Independent

Is judicial secrecy defensible in an era of judicial supremacy?

The New Yorker

Those are big ifs in an era of overcrowded classrooms.

The New York Times - Magazine

In an era of deleveraging it is unlikely to return.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in an era", make sure to clearly define the characteristics that distinguish that particular time period from others. This provides context and makes your writing more informative.

Common error

Avoid using "in an era" too vaguely. Instead of saying "in an era of technology", be more specific: "in an era of personalized technology" to highlight the unique aspects of that period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in an era" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase that introduces a temporal context. It sets the stage for describing events, trends, or conditions that are characteristic of a particular period, as illustrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in an era" is a grammatically sound and versatile prepositional phrase used to establish a temporal context. According to Ludwig AI, it is considered correct and suitable for various writing styles. It is most commonly found in news and media sources, making it a valuable tool for providing background and perspective. To use it effectively, define the distinguishing characteristics of the era you're referring to and avoid overgeneralizations. Remember to use "an" before "era" since "era" starts with a vowel sound.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during an age

This alternative substitutes "era" with "age", a synonym denoting a long period of time marked by distinct features.

in a period

This alternative uses the word "period" instead of "era", referring to a specific segment of time.

in an age of

This alternative emphasizes the characteristics of a specific age.

in a time

This is a more general way to express the idea, using "time" which can refer to any duration.

in a season

This alternative uses "season" which implies a recurring period of time.

during the epoch of

This is a more formal and specific way to say "in an era", using "epoch" which often refers to significant historical periods.

in a generation

This alternative focuses on the time span of a generation, typically 20-30 years.

in the days of

This phrase is more descriptive of the past, implying a historical context.

in a moment

This refers to a very short or specific point in time.

under the reign of

This phrase specifies time context according to a ruling leader.

FAQs

How can I use "in an era" in a sentence?

Use "in an era" to set a temporal context for an event or trend. For example, "In an era of globalization, international collaboration is essential."

What are some alternatives to "in an era"?

Alternatives include phrases like "during an age", "in a period", or "in a time", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

How does "in an era" differ from "in an age"?

"In an era" and "in an age" are often interchangeable, but "age" can imply a longer, more historically significant period than "era". Consider "the Stone Age" versus "the digital era".

Is it correct to say "in a era" instead of "in an era"?

No, the correct form is "in an era". The indefinite article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.