many a day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'many a day' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a set phrase meaning a long time ago, or a lot of days in the past. You can use it when recounting events that happened a long time ago. For example, "Many a day has passed since I last saw my old friend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

How many a day?

The Guardian - Film

"Many a day I cried," Mrs. Wasserman says, worrying about how to pay the mortgage.

The New York Times

To come to America is to be greatly disoriented for many a day.

The New York Times - Magazine

It obviously thinks it's the sexiest thing to land on upper Broadway in many a day.

The New York Times - Food

Beet planting will last for many weeks because the processor can only handle so many a day during harvest.

Cornell University

I remember heading for math class on many a day and finding one or more boys waiting for me at the door of the classroom.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

He's up at 6 a.m. each day, working many a Saturday.

Forbes

(And he used the bathroom many, many times a day).

Huffington Post

During my teenage years, the Capitol was my destination on many a Friday or Saturday night.

The New York Times

For me, the Sunday sermon looms large enough to make many a Saturday night sleepless.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Many a Friday on the training pitch with Yakubu at Middlesbrough.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone of your writing when using "many a day". It is more suited to formal or descriptive contexts than casual conversation.

Common error

Be careful not to use a plural verb with "many a day". The phrase requires a singular verb form (e.g., "Many a day has passed," not "have passed").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "many a day" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating time or frequency. As Ludwig AI explains, it is a set phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

16%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "many a day" is a grammatically sound and relatively common idiomatic expression used to convey the idea of a long duration or frequent occurrence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Academic writing, lending a slightly formal or nostalgic tone. Remember to use a singular verb with the phrase and consider alternative expressions like "numerous days" or "a considerable time" to suit different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

many days

A more direct and less idiomatic way of saying "many a day".

numerous days

Stresses the quantity of days.

several days

Indicates more than a few days.

a considerable time

Focuses on the length of the period.

a good while

Emphasizes a reasonably long duration.

quite some time

Highlights the duration as being significant.

on numerous occasions

Highlights the repeated nature of an event over time.

for a long time

Emphasizes the extended duration of a period.

frequently

Shifts the focus to the frequency of an event, rather than a specific duration.

often

Similar to 'frequently', indicating regular occurrence.

FAQs

How can I use "many a day" in a sentence?

You can use "many a day" to describe something that happened frequently or over a long period. For example, "Many a day was spent working on the project".

What does "many a day" mean?

"Many a day" is an idiomatic expression that means a lot of days or for a long time. It's often used to describe something that occurred frequently or over an extended period.

Which is correct, "many a day is" or "many a day are"?

"Many a day is" is the correct form. Although it might sound counterintuitive, the phrase "many a" takes a singular verb.

What are some alternatives to "many a day"?

You can use alternatives like "a considerable time", "numerous days", or "for a long time" depending on the context.