in january

USAGE SUMMARY

"in January" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the first month of the year. For example: "We plan to visit in January."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

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 writing dates, always ensure clarity. "In january 2026" is clearer than just "in january" if the year isn't obvious from context.

Common error

Avoid using other prepositions like "on january" or "at january" since "in" is the standard preposition for months.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in january" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action or event takes place. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the prepositional phrase "in january" is a grammatically correct and very common way to indicate that something happens during the month of january. As Ludwig AI indicates, it follows standard English grammar rules. It is frequently used in neutral contexts, such as in news and media, and also in formal and business settings. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by including the year if the context doesn't already provide it, and avoid using alternative prepositions such as "on" or "at" with january.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

During january

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

Throughout january

Highlights events happening from the beginning to the end of the month.

January month

Specifies "january" as a noun, indicating the month itself.

The month of january

More formal way to specify january as a specific month.

January period

Highlights a specific duration or timeframe within january.

Early january

Focuses on the initial part of the month.

Late january

Refers to the final days of the month.

Next january

Specifies that the event is referring to january of the next year.

By january

Indicates a deadline or an event occurring no later than january.

Come january

Expresses anticipation or a future event in january.

FAQs

How is the phrase "in january" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "in january" specifies a time frame, indicating that something occurs during the month of january. For example, "The conference will be held "in january"."

Are there alternative ways to refer to something happening in january?

Yes, you can use phrases like "during january", "throughout january", or "the month of january" to convey a similar meaning. These alternatives offer slight variations in emphasis or formality.

What's the difference between "in january" and "on january 1st"?

"In january" refers to the entire month, while "on january 1st" specifies a particular day. Use "in january" when the specific date isn't important and "on january 1st" when it is.

Is it correct to say "in the january"?

No, it is not correct. The correct phrase is simply ""in january"" without the article "the". Adding "the" is grammatically incorrect in this context.