on the dusk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on the dusk" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to a specific time during the evening when daylight is fading, but "at dusk" is more standard. Example: "We decided to take a walk on the dusk, enjoying the cool evening air."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Some images are characterised by a double-celled convection pattern with the dawn cell dominant on the dusk one for a southward (B_z) (Fig. 8c, d and f), some have a more complex convection pattern which consists of several cells for northward (B_z) (Fig. 8a and e) and lastly in some others the cells merge into one large near-corotation cell (Fig. 8b).

Earth, Planets and Space

The analysis reveals that, with the increase of L, the rotation rate of the plasmasphere tends to strongly decrease on the dusk side and slightly increase on the dawn side.

Advances in Space Research

And a startling 80% drop across England in 40 years has diluted the shifting Rorschach blots painted on the dusk sky by massed flocks of starling - though urban changes are blamed for this too.

The Guardian

High β cases are mostly associated with events on the dusk side.

Earth, Planets and Space

Figure 12 shows two examples of isolated wave packets detected on the dusk side.

Earth, Planets and Space

Roughly speaking, the magnetic field lines which starting points are on the spherical shell on the dusk side, which is shown in Fig. 2(a), form a magnetic tail lobe on the dusk side.

Earth, Planets and Space

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

The effect modelled at mid-latitudes on the horizontal component H is characterised by a clear dawn dusk asymmetry, with negative perturbation on the dawn-side and positive on the dusk-side (as in our Fig. 2c).

Earth, Planets and Space

And all the while, the CapeFlyer — on its inaugural run from Boston to Cape Cod — rolled on through the dusk, carrying relaxed and stress-free passengers.

The New York Times

Often they are migrant workers outside on plantations in the dusk when the mosquitoes bite.

The Guardian

The night nurse had put on                his little frowning socks; he lay       on his lifebed, in the dusk, holdingthe tail of a comet.

The New Yorker

On the road, in the dusk, we saw thousands of people cutting brush, selling packets of wood, hitchhiking, living their lives.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using the more common and grammatically correct phrase "at dusk" instead of "on the dusk" for clarity and better acceptance.

Common error

Avoid using "on" with time-related nouns like "dusk". "At" is the standard preposition for indicating a specific time of day.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on the dusk" functions as an adverbial phrase, attempting to specify the time at which an action occurs. However, as noted by Ludwig, this usage is non-standard and can sound awkward.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "on the dusk" aims to specify a timeframe around sunset, it's an uncommon and potentially awkward construction. As Ludwig indicates, "at dusk" is the standard and preferred alternative. Although the example sources are generally reputable, using "on the dusk" may detract from clarity. For most contexts, particularly in formal writing, sticking with "at dusk" or similar alternatives is advisable. The register is generally neutral although the odd phrasing might be perceived as slightly informal in more official contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at dusk

Replaces the preposition "on" with "at", which is more standard and grammatically correct in this context.

during dusk

Uses "during" to indicate an action happening within the period of dusk, providing a slightly different emphasis.

as dusk falls

Emphasizes the transition into dusk, focusing on the action of night approaching.

when dusk arrives

Similar to "as dusk falls", this highlights the arrival of dusk as a point in time.

in the twilight

Replaces "dusk" with "twilight", a related term referring to the period between day and night.

at nightfall

Uses "nightfall" as a synonym for dusk, indicating the beginning of the night.

in the evening

Offers a more general term for the time of day, suitable when the specific nuance of "dusk" is not required.

as the sun sets

Focuses on the setting sun as the marker of time, rather than the period of dusk itself.

during sunset

Highlights the event of the sun setting, offering a more specific timeframe than "dusk".

in the gloaming

Replaces "dusk" with "gloaming", a more poetic and less common term for twilight.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "on the dusk"?

While occasionally found, "on the dusk" is not standard English. It's better to use "at dusk", which is the commonly accepted prepositional phrase.

What does "at dusk" mean?

"At dusk" refers to the time of day when the light is fading and the sun is setting. It's the transitional period between day and night.

What are some other ways to describe the time when it gets dark?

Besides "at dusk", you can also say "at twilight", "at nightfall", or "in the evening" depending on the level of specificity you need.

Which is more common, "on the dusk" or "at dusk"?

"At dusk" is far more common and grammatically correct. "On the dusk" is rarely used and may sound awkward to native English speakers.