on a certain evening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on a certain evening" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific evening that is not precisely identified, often in storytelling or narrative contexts. Example: "On a certain evening, the stars shone brighter than ever, casting a magical glow over the landscape."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A former Bostonian got a letter from one of his father's friends there, saying that he was coming to N. Y. on a brief business trip and suggested that the two of them get together on a certain evening.

The New Yorker

Montandon's book also includes this helpful advice: "Suppose you read in the newspaper one morning that a rarely seen comet is approaching Earth, and will be visible on a certain evening a few weeks off.

The New York Times - Books

Shizuka Yokomizo has produced a series of photographs called "Dear Stranger," for which she wrote anonymously to people with ground-floor apartments in Tokyo, London, New York and Berlin, asking them to stand by their windows at a particular moment on a certain evening to be photographed from the street.

The New York Times - Arts

It is based on a 5,000-year-old 5,000-year-old 5,000-year-oldarise on a certain evening between difolkent species, and mythSheng takes that nofion as lovense thatreate a sort of Wagnerian Gesamtkunstwerk, uniting opera and drama, East and West.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"It's one of them things that happens and you just get a certain referee on a certain night that makes a decision and there's nothing you can do about it.

BBC

Guy Lombardo can be nice on a certain night, but you're going to need Duke Ellington and Count Basie".

The New Yorker

The New Yorker, January 7 , 1939P. 44 I had seen in the papers that on a certain afternoon it would be possible for anyone - anyone with six dollars - to visit half a dozen charming hostesses in their salons.

The New Yorker

By E. J. Kahn The New Yorker, January 7 , 1939P. 44 I had seen in the papers that on a certain afternoon it would be possible for anyone - anyone with six dollars - to visit half a dozen charming hostesses in their salons.

The New Yorker

Suppose that this man was confined in Providence, and utterly incapable of getting to Boston on a certain morning.

SEP

Every theater review could contain the caveat that it's a review of a certain performance on a certain night.

Huffington Post

Mrs. Potter suggested that her 15 year old daughter ought to stay home on a certain Saturday evening as she had a cold.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on a certain evening" when you want to refer to a specific evening without explicitly stating which one, creating a sense of mystery or narrative distance.

Common error

Avoid using "on a certain evening" in formal reports or academic papers where precision is required. Instead, specify the exact date or time period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a certain evening" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action or event occurs. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it indicates a particular, but unspecified, evening.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on a certain evening" is a grammatically correct and usable adverbial phrase that introduces a sense of narrative time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its usage tends to be neutral to slightly formal, especially within News & Media. While versatile, it's important to use it judiciously in formal settings and consider alternatives like "on a particular evening" or "one evening" depending on the desired level of precision. Remember that the absence of a specific date is intentional and contributes to creating a specific mood or atmosphere.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a particular evening

Replaces "certain" with "particular", emphasizing a specific instance.

on one evening in particular

Adds emphasis to the specificity of the evening.

on a given evening

Substitutes "certain" with "given", implying a pre-determined evening.

one evening

Simplifies the phrase, removing the emphasis on specificity.

on that specific evening

Highlights a previously mentioned or understood evening.

during a specific evening

Changes the preposition to "during", emphasizing the duration of the evening.

on a memorable evening

Indicates the evening was noteworthy or significant.

at a specific twilight

Replaces 'evening' with 'twilight' specifying the time of day with similar meaning

during a clear dusk

Replaces 'evening' with 'dusk' specifying the time of day with similar meaning, and using a 'clear' adjective

at a time after dark

More generic and verbose way to refer to an evening time

FAQs

How can I use "on a certain evening" in a sentence?

You can use "on a certain evening" to set a scene or introduce an event without being specific about the exact date. For example, "On a certain evening, a strange fog rolled into town."

What are some alternatives to "on a certain evening"?

Alternatives include "on a particular evening", "one evening", or "on a given evening" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "on a certain night" or "on a certain evening"?

Both "on a certain night" and "on a certain evening" are grammatically correct and usable. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Evening" might imply a slightly more formal or literary context compared to "night."

What's the difference between "on a certain evening" and "on one particular evening"?

"On one particular evening" emphasizes the specificity of the evening more strongly than "on a certain evening". While both refer to an unspecified but definite evening, "one particular evening" highlights that specific instance over others.