it is time that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is time that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something needs to happen or be done, or to introduce a statement. Example: "It is time that we had a conversation about your future goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is time that the left remember its principles, and stop castrating debate and free discourse.

HuffPost

It is time that changed.

The Economist

It is time that it ended.

The Economist

It is time that Labour changes, too.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is time that we move on.

The Guardian

It is time that lessons were learned.

The Guardian

It is time that the U.S. start implementing similar regulations.

University of California, Berkeley

It is time that Russia's true friends speak out.

The New York Times

It is time that someone else took a stand.

The Washington Post

It is time that Trenton learned this lesson.

The New York Times

It is time that our government rename it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is time that" to introduce a suggestion or demand for change, particularly when expressing dissatisfaction with the current state.

Common error

After "it is time that", always use the subjunctive mood (base form of the verb), even if it seems grammatically incorrect. For example, "It is time that he be held accountable," not "It is time that he is held accountable."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is time that" serves as an idiomatic expression to introduce a suggestion, demand, or statement implying that something should be done promptly, or should have been done already. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is time that" is a grammatically correct and widely used idiom to express a sense of urgency or necessity for action. As indicated by Ludwig, it is commonly found in news media and academic contexts. While versatile, it should be used with the subjunctive mood to maintain grammatical correctness. Common alternatives include "it's high time to" and "the moment has come to", offering similar yet nuanced ways to convey the need for change or immediate action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's high time to

Highlights the urgency of the situation, suggesting it's already late. Slightly more informal.

the moment has come to

Emphasizes the arrival of a crucial point for action. Changes the structure to a more emphatic declaration.

it is essential that

Underscores the fundamental importance of the subsequent action. Emphasizes necessity rather than urgency.

the time is ripe to

Implies conditions are now ideal for a specific action. Uses a more figurative and positive tone.

the need has arisen to

Highlights that a necessity has emerged, requiring a specific response. More formal and emphasizes the emergence of the need.

we must now

Directly states the necessity of immediate action. More forceful and less nuanced.

it's imperative to

Stresses the critical importance of the action. Uses a more formal and urgent tone.

we need to immediately

Highlights the immediate need for action, focusing on the necessity. More direct and less traditional.

action is required now to

States the necessity of action due to the urgency of the matter. Slightly more formal and passive.

steps must be taken to

Focuses on the need for concrete steps. More formal and less personalized.

FAQs

How to use "it is time that" in a sentence?

Use "it is time that" to express that something should be done soon or should have been done already. For instance, "It is time that we addressed this issue."

What can I say instead of "it is time that"?

Alternatives include "it's high time to", "the moment has come to", or "it is essential that", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it is time that we do" or "it is time that we did"?

Both forms are acceptable, but "it is time that we did" (past subjunctive) is more common and grammatically correct in formal writing. It implies a sense of urgency or that the action is overdue.

What's the difference between "it is time to" and "it is time that"?

"It is time to" is followed by an infinitive verb (e.g., "It is time to leave"), while "it is time that" is followed by a subject and a verb in the subjunctive mood (e.g., "It is time that we left"). "It is time that" often carries a stronger sense of urgency or obligation.