official date

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "official date" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a date that has been formally established or recognized for an event or deadline. Example: "The official date for the conference has been set for March 15th."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No official date has yet been set.

The Guardian - Arts

Their first official date was at the end of August.

The New York Times

Their first official date was the following weekend.

The New York Times

It returns to ITV in the autumn, but an official date has not yet been announced.

Independent

The country still does not have an official date for the next presidential and parliamentary elections.

The New York Times

Soon after, the dog owners made their first official date, without their dogs, on Oct. 10.

The New York Times

The couple's first official date also took place where it should have — at a bar.

The New York Times

For their first official date, Peck insisted that they visit a laundromat.

The New Yorker

But the official date of death was May, 1999, a year later than Adrian had indicated.

The New Yorker

The official date encyclopedia lists 627 varieties in Iraq, and everyone champions a favorite.

The New York Times

The family has not even been told the official date of Berta's death.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "official date", ensure the context clearly indicates what the date is official for. For instance, "the official date of the product launch" provides more clarity than just "the official date".

Common error

Avoid using "official date" when referring to dates that are still subject to change. Use terms like "projected date" or "estimated date" instead to convey uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "official date" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or an object of a preposition. It identifies a specific point in time that has been formally recognized or designated, as illustrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

22%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "official date" is a commonly used noun phrase to denote a formally recognized or designated date for an event or deadline. Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically correct and widely accepted. It is most frequently found in news and media, wiki, and formal business contexts. When using "official date", ensure the context is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "designated date" and "established date", offering subtle variations in meaning. While generally neutral in tone, "official date" leans towards formal depending on the context. Therefore, using this is generally correct, especially where reliability and authoritativeness is valued.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

designated date

Replaces "official" with "designated", emphasizing the act of specifying or choosing a date.

established date

Uses "established" instead of "official", highlighting the act of setting up or creating a date.

scheduled date

Focuses on the planned or arranged aspect of the date, using "scheduled" instead of "official".

confirmed date

Emphasizes the certainty and validation of the date, replacing "official" with "confirmed".

fixed date

Highlights the immutability or unchangeability of the date, using "fixed" instead of "official".

formal date

Swaps "official" with "formal", suggesting adherence to conventions or regulations.

recognized date

Highlights the acknowledgment or acceptance of the date, replacing "official" with "recognized".

specified date

Emphasizes the detailed or explicit nature of the date, using "specified" instead of "official".

prescribed date

Suggests that the date is set by a rule or authority, replacing "official" with "prescribed".

canonical date

Implies that the date is the standard or authoritative one, using "canonical" instead of "official".

FAQs

How to use "official date" in a sentence?

You can use "official date" to refer to the date formally set or recognized for an event. For example, "The "official date" for the conference is July 20, 2026."

What can I say instead of "official date"?

You can use alternatives like "designated date", "established date", or "scheduled date" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "official date" in informal communication?

While "official date" is generally appropriate for formal contexts, it can also be used in informal communication when emphasizing the confirmed or finalized nature of a date. In very informal contexts, a simpler phrase like "set date" might suffice.

What's the difference between "official date" and "unofficial date"?

"Official date" refers to a date that has been formally recognized or established, whereas "unofficial date" refers to a tentative or informal date that may be subject to change.