old date

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "old date" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a date that is in the past or no longer current. Example: "The report was based on data from an old date, which may not reflect the current situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

In 1727, in an effort to build the influence of his paper, he promised his readers that he would print up-to-date news rather than reports of "occurrencies of an old date".

Encyclopedia Britannica

In particular, the judge said the change in the record date was justified because of the turnover of almost 25 percent of Dell's shares after the old date was set, and because of the numerous revised proposals made by Mr. Icahn himself, which also affected the composition of the shareholder base.

The New York Times

Moving the California primary to March 7 from its old date in June would ensure one thing, the politicos and party hacks said: it would give the state, the seventh-largest economic power in the world, some importance in the process of electing the president.

The New York Times

The 1.997 million year old date of A. sebida places it in the "murky" period just after the rise of Homo, and the demise of Australopithecus africanus.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

While this divergence between the USA and Colombia is of old date, there are countries that in the last 50 years have managed to close the income gap, leaving behind other developing economies.

Journal of Economic Structures

They look adorable in an old "date night" photo from the '90s, which Huffman posted last month..

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Modern Libya is sixty-five years old, dating from 1951.

The New Yorker

Or else, he said, there's always the old dating trick.

The New York Times - Arts

The northern Caspian Sea bottom is extremely old, dating to Precambrian times, or at least about 541 million years ago.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They left their American descendants with just a few cloudy passed-on memories of old dates, places and names.

The New York Times

The researchers say more seeds are needed for a more thorough understanding of what made those old dates so good.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referencing data or information, specify the "old date" to provide context regarding its relevance and potential limitations. For example, "The conclusions are based on data collected as of an old date, so newer information may exist."

Common error

Avoid using information from an "old date" without verifying its current accuracy. Changes in circumstances could make the older information misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "old date" functions as a noun phrase with an adjectival modifier. The adjective "old" describes the noun "date", indicating that it refers to a date that is not recent. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "old date" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, typically employed to denote a date that is in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's often found in contexts where the age of information is relevant. While "old date" is not exceptionally common, it appears in a variety of sources, including news media, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. Alternative phrases, such as "former date" or "previous date", can be used to convey a similar meaning. When using the phrase "old date", it is important to consider whether the age of the information affects its reliability and validity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

former date

Replaces "old" with "former", emphasizing that the date is previous.

previous date

Similar to "former date", but uses "previous" instead of "former".

past date

Uses "past" to indicate the date is in the past.

outdated date

Indicates that the date is no longer current or relevant.

early date

Focuses on the date being from an earlier time.

historical date

Emphasizes the date's significance in history.

original date

Highlights that it's the first date associated with something.

long-ago date

Stresses that the date occurred far in the past.

earlier time

This expresses the idea of something being from the past in a more general way.

date in the past

Describes the date as existing in the past using more explicit language.

FAQs

How to use "old date" in a sentence?

You can use "old date" to refer to a date that is in the past or no longer current. For example, "The analysis used data from an old date, which may not reflect the current situation."

What can I say instead of "old date"?

You can use alternatives like "former date", "previous date", or "past date" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "old date"?

It's appropriate to use "old date" when you want to emphasize that the date is not recent and might affect the validity or relevance of the associated information.

What's the difference between "old date" and "historical date"?

"Old date" simply refers to a date in the past, while "historical date" suggests the date is significant in history. The terms are not always interchangeable.