it really late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it really late" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "it is really late"? You can use this corrected phrase when indicating that the time is late, often in a context where it may be relevant to someone's plans or activities. Example: "I think we should head home now because it is really late."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And if you leave it really late you'll soon find yourself wiping beads of sweat from your forehead as the first month of a shiny new year draws in; not ideal if you've decided to 'go dry' for the 31 days it takes for January to tick over into the mercifully short February.

Independent

"I had left it really late and I was in Aberdeen and I went to the one costume shop in Aberdeen.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Most of the time I don't use it, unless it's really late at night," she said.

Vice

It was the year it snowed really late in December, and public transport was in a state of bewilderment at how to cope with it all.

The Guardian

Back then, the franchise was more game-based but now there's a trillion little doo-dahs (extra features) in the game, that make it harder to play when it's really late at night.

Vice

"It's really early, and yet it's really late already," said Frye, explaining that some guests had taken antibiotics that killed off the evidence of what sickened them.

Los Angeles Times

It's better to finish the assignment (or do something sufficient to hand in, perhaps with a B or B-, or even less) and hand it in on time than to hand it in really late or not at all.

WikiHow

It was really late at night and everyone was exhausted and it's just got that unhurried, humid sound to it.

TechCrunch

And when Flight 1659 was late, it was really late — an average of 87 minutes behind schedule, or roughly the time it takes for the American MD-80 to actually fly the route.

The New York Times

It was really late.

Harvard Business Review

It's really late.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always include the verb "is" or "was" when referring to the time being late. Use "it is really late" or "it was really late" for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "it really late" without the necessary verb. This omission makes the sentence grammatically incorrect. Always include "is" or "was" depending on the intended tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it really late" functions as an expression of time, attempting to convey that the current time is past a reasonable or expected hour. However, it lacks the necessary verb, rendering it grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase needs the verb "is" or "was" to be correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it really late" is grammatically incorrect due to the missing verb "is" or "was". As Ludwig AI points out, the correct forms are "it is really late" or "it was really late", depending on the context. While there are a few examples of the incorrect phrase being used, primarily in news and media, it's best to avoid it in formal writing and speech. For clearer communication, consider alternatives like "it is quite late" or "the hour is late". Always prioritize grammatical accuracy for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is very late

Uses the correct verb "is" to form a grammatically sound sentence.

it's really late

Contraction of "it is", creating a more conversational tone.

it was really late

Shifts the tense to the past, indicating lateness at a previous time.

it's quite late

Substitutes "really" with "quite", offering a slightly less intense degree of lateness.

it is getting late

Emphasizes the process of becoming late, rather than a static state.

it's already late

Highlights that lateness has already been reached.

the hour is late

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of expressing lateness.

time is far spent

An idiomatic way of saying that time has passed a lot.

it's past the due time

Highlights that something already should have started.

it's behind schedule

Highlights that things are not happening on time.

FAQs

How do I correctly use the phrase "it really late"?

The phrase "it really late" is grammatically incorrect. You should use "it is really late" or "it was really late" depending on the context.

What's a more formal way to say "it is really late"?

While "it is really late" is acceptable in most contexts, you could use "the hour is late" for a more formal or literary tone. However, be mindful that this alternative can sound archaic.

Are there alternatives to "really" when saying "it is really late"?

Yes, you can substitute "really" with words like "quite", "very", or "already" to express different degrees of lateness.

Is "it really late" acceptable in informal conversation?

While some might understand you in very informal settings, it's generally better to use the grammatically correct form, "it is really late", even in casual conversations.