nearest date

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearest date" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
For example, you could say: "Please provide your nearest date of availability."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

According to the Luftwaffe order of battle dated 7 September, the nearest date covered by the list, the three Air Fleets contained 1,895 aircraft.

Wikipedia

If data was not available on the exact date specified, lab values from the nearest date were used.

BMC Infectious Diseases

For women in the control arm, it was set to the date of entry of those in the intervention arm with the same or nearest date of birth in the same general practice.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Indeed, stopping CSR payments – or saying, unequivocally, that they will stop on some near date certain -- might be the harsh medicine that gets some in Congress to take action.

Forbes

Households are selected using random digit dialing and then the individual with the nearest birth date to the interview date is selected.

BMC Public Health

Instead, I ended up scheduling the interviews in the nearest available date.

Science Magazine

Actually, this explains why students had to travel to other regions in order to meet with the nearest test date.

Language Testing in Asia

Dissolving the government and forming a National Unity Transition Government to prepare for free and fair general elections at the nearest possible date.

HuffPost

In each household, the person with the birthday nearest the date was interviewed.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

The ProvLab clinical isolate nearest in date to the incident IPC case identified from a hospital-collected clinical or screening specimen was selected for analysis (Fig.  1).

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control

I decided not to touch my account until nearer the date of the course.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to appointments or deadlines, using "nearest date" can help to specify the closest available time slot or the closest acceptable deadline.

Common error

Avoid using "nearest date" when you need to specify a precise date. This phrase is best used when an approximate or flexible timeframe is acceptable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearest date" functions as a noun phrase, where "nearest" modifies the noun "date". This indicates a specific point in time closest to a given reference, showcasing its adjectival and nominal roles.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nearest date" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-registered expression used to indicate temporal proximity. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across various domains such as Science, News & Media, and Wiki. It is best employed when an exact date is not crucial but rather the closest available one suffices. For similar expressions, consider alternatives such as "closest date" or "soonest date". When aiming for accuracy, prevent misunderstandings by specifying precise dates rather than relying on the relative "nearest date".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

closest date

Indicates the date that is spatially or temporally closest to a reference point.

soonest date

Emphasizes the date that occurs earliest or most quickly.

earliest date

Highlights the date that is the furthest back in time, yet still acceptable.

next available date

Focuses on the first date that is free or accessible.

most proximate date

A more formal way to express the date that is nearest or closest.

immediate date

Suggests a date that is very close in time, almost instantaneous.

adjacent date

Refers to a date that is immediately before or after a specific point.

date closest in time

Explicitly states the criteria for nearness is temporal proximity.

date in close proximity

Emphasizes the spatial or temporal closeness of the date.

neighboring date

Implies a date that is very close or adjacent to another date.

FAQs

How can I use "nearest date" in a sentence?

You might say, "What is the "next available date" for a consultation?" or "The lab values from the "closest date" were used."

What phrases are similar in meaning to "nearest date"?

Alternatives include "closest date", "soonest date", or "earliest date", each carrying slightly different nuances of temporal proximity.

When is it appropriate to use "nearest date" instead of a specific date?

"Nearest date" is suitable when an exact date is not crucial, and an approximate or the closest available time will suffice, such as when scheduling appointments or referencing data collected around a specific event.

Is there a more formal way to express "nearest date"?

A more formal option could be "most proximate date", although "nearest date" itself is generally acceptable in most contexts.