on a sunday

USAGE SUMMARY

"on a Sunday" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an event that typically occurs, or has occurred, on a Sunday. For example, "We usually have a family dinner on a Sunday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Around Paris on a Sunday.

Independent

Beck on a Sunday night.

Independent

Austria on a Sunday afternoon.

The New York Times - Sports

On a Sunday, mind you.

The New York Times

It happened on a Sunday.

The New Yorker

"Four o'clock on a Sunday afternoon.

The New York Times

And on a Sunday afternoon at that?

The New Yorker

Christmas falls on a Sunday this year.

Independent

Presumably because he chills on a Sunday.

Independent

On a Sunday!' " Mr. Fox said.

The New York Times

This beat on a Sunday is irresistible.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about recurring events, use "on sundays" to indicate a general habit or schedule, and "on a sunday" to refer to a specific instance or event that happened or will happen on one particular Sunday.

Common error

Avoid using "on a sunday" when you mean to express a general habit. For example, instead of "I go to the market on a sunday", write "I go to the market on sundays".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a sunday" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying when an action takes place. It indicates the time of an event, pinpointing it to a particular Sunday. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on a sunday" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that specifies the timing of an event to a particular Sunday. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, and it predominantly appears in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's essential to distinguish its usage from "on sundays", which refers to a general habit. Related phrases include "each sunday" and "every sunday", offering slight variations in emphasis. Remember to use "on a sunday" for single instances and "on sundays" for recurring events to maintain clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on sundays

This alternative focuses on Sundays as a general period rather than a specific instance.

every sunday

Similar to "each sunday", this also highlights the regularity of an event on Sundays.

each sunday

This emphasizes the recurring nature of an event happening every Sunday.

one sunday

Refers to a single, unspecified Sunday.

a particular sunday

Emphasizes a specific, though unspecified, Sunday.

sunday mornings

This specifies the time of day on Sunday when something occurs.

sunday afternoons

Similar to "sunday mornings", but refers to the afternoon period on Sunday.

sunday evenings

Specifies the evening period on Sunday.

last sunday

Indicates the Sunday immediately preceding the present day.

this sunday

Refers to the Sunday of the current week.

FAQs

How do I use "on a sunday" in a sentence?

Use "on a sunday" to specify that something occurred or will occur on a particular, unspecified Sunday. For example, "The event happened "on a sunday" afternoon".

What's the difference between "on a sunday" and "on sundays"?

"On a sunday" refers to a single, specific Sunday, while "on sundays" refers to Sundays in general, indicating a recurring event or habit. For instance, "I work "on a sunday"" implies a specific Sunday you worked, whereas "I work "on sundays"" suggests you work every Sunday.

Can I use "on sunday" instead of "on a sunday"?

While "on sunday" is grammatically correct, it is less common when referring to an unspecified Sunday. "On a sunday" is often preferred to emphasize that it was one particular Sunday. If you were referring to a specific upcoming Sunday, you would simply use "on sunday".

What are some alternatives to "on a sunday"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "one sunday", "a particular sunday", or if referring to a specific Sunday known to the audience, simply "on sunday".