on the day in question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on the day in question" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a specific day that has been previously mentioned or is relevant to the context of a discussion. Example: "The meeting was scheduled for the 15th, but on the day in question, I was unable to attend due to a family emergency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We excluded 13 control days because the controls received renal replacement therapy on the day in question and one control day because of missing data on urine output.

British Medical Journal

With respect to each alleged violation, the burden of proof shall be on a television broadcast station to establish that the satellite carrier retransmitted the station to at least one person in the local market of the station on the day in question.

Cornell University

He was losing that control on the day in question".

The Guardian

On the day in question, a colleague has severe toothache, and Katherine escorts her home.

The Guardian - Books

"We were on the day in question at a golf outing.

The New York Times

On the day in question, I had two horrendous lessons back-to-back.

The Guardian

On the day in question, I was wearing a pair for the first time and against my will.

The Guardian

The problem? Later, preparing for trial, I learned that the agent hadn't been working on the day in question.

The New York Times

Freer's office issued a brief statement today to confirm that on the day in question he was at a funeral in Inverness.

The Guardian

Wagnon had testified that he shot at an Afghan on the day in question because he believed the man had fired a weapon at Staff Sergeant Calvin Gibbs.

The Guardian

Not only was al-Megrahi in Malta on the day in question, holding a false passport, he flew back to Libya just before the flight took off.

The Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on the day in question" to clearly refer back to a specific day previously mentioned or clearly understood within the context, avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "on the day in question" when a simple "that day" or "the next day" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or verbose, especially in less formal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on the day in question" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event occurred. It modifies a verb by providing temporal context. As confirmed by Ludwig, it’s a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Science

11%

Academia

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on the day in question" is a grammatically sound phrase used to pinpoint a previously referenced date. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. Appearing frequently in news, science, and academic contexts, it serves to remove ambiguity. While incredibly useful for precision, it's important to use it judiciously, ensuring it adds value rather than unnecessary formality. Consider alternatives like "on that specific day" in less formal contexts. By understanding its nuances, writers can effectively incorporate "on the day in question" into their work, maximizing clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on that specific day

Replaces "in question" with "specific", emphasizing a known, particular day.

on the aforementioned day

Uses "aforementioned" to link back to a previously referenced day.

on the relevant date

Substitutes "day" with "date" and "in question" with "relevant", focusing on its importance.

during the day in question

Adds "during", highlighting that the events occurred within that specific timeframe.

on said day

Uses "said" as a formal alternative to "the day in question".

on the particular day

Emphasizes the uniqueness of the day by using "particular".

at the time in question

Shifts the focus slightly from the day itself to a specific point in time within that day.

that day in particular

Rearranges the phrase to stress the importance of the specific day.

on the day under consideration

Replaces "in question" with "under consideration", suitable for formal contexts.

concerning that day

Simplifies the phrase to focus directly on the day's relevance.

FAQs

How can I use "on the day in question" in a sentence?

Use "on the day in question" to refer back to a specific day previously mentioned. For example: "The event was scheduled for Tuesday, but on the day in question, the weather was terrible."

What are some alternatives to "on the day in question"?

Alternatives include "on that specific day", "on the aforementioned day", or "on the relevant date". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to use "on the day in question" or simply "that day"?

Use "on the day in question" when you need to explicitly link back to a previously discussed day and avoid any ambiguity. Use "that day" when the reference is already perfectly clear from the immediate context.

When is it appropriate to use "on the day in question" in writing?

It is appropriate in formal writing, legal documents, or any situation where precision and clarity are essential to avoid confusion about which day is being referenced.