possibly during

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "possibly during" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate uncertainty about the timing of an event or action. Example: "The meeting will take place possibly during the first week of next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Past scarring, possibly during earlier harvest operations, can also provide indications of possible trunk rot and thus the likelihood of tree fall (Matlack et al. 1993).

Forest Ecosystems

The town became an early outpost of Islam, possibly during the lifetime of the Prophet Muḥammad.

Encyclopedia Britannica

About 750 ce central Teotihuacán burned, possibly during an insurrection or a civil war.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In a written order, he suggested that he would issue a deadline, possibly during Monday's hearing, if the strike continued.

The New York Times

Despite Soviet requests for a face-to-face meeting, possibly during foreign travel by B, the spy refused.

The New York Times

All futile because it was possibly, during that longest, darkest night of my life, all too late.

Independent

Possibly during the Stenia, a festival celebrated two days earlier, piglets were thrown into an underground chamber, called a megaron.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They also have questioned why paramedics who were on the scene before police arrived left just before, or possibly during, the beating.

The New York Times

Until they went to school, boy children basked in the attentions of womenfolk: relatives, neighbours, even possibly, during the good years, a nurse.

The Guardian

His trainer, Frank Brothers, said yesterday that the colt had strained the carpal tunnel behind the knee, possibly during his disappointing seventh-place finish in the Blue Grass.

The New York Times - Sports

The Pygmies, having arrived possibly during the Upper Paleolithic Period, are thought to have been the earliest inhabitants of the Congo basin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "possibly during" to introduce a timeframe when the exact timing of an event is uncertain or speculative, avoiding definitive statements.

Common error

Avoid using "possibly during" when the timing is known or can be determined with reasonable accuracy. Overusing it can dilute its meaning and suggest unnecessary uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "possibly during" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating uncertainty about the timing of an event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is a grammatically correct way to express a potential action within a specific timeframe.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

31%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "possibly during" is a versatile phrase used to express uncertainty about the timing of an event. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. When writing, it’s important to use "possibly during" when you genuinely want to indicate uncertainty, avoiding its overuse when the timing is known. Alternatives like "perhaps while" or "maybe during" can also be considered. Its presence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and Encyclopedia Britannica confirms its wide acceptance and proper use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perhaps while

Replaces "possibly" with "perhaps", maintaining the uncertainty about the timing.

maybe during

Substitutes "possibly" with "maybe", indicating a similar level of uncertainty.

potentially during

Uses "potentially" instead of "possibly", suggesting a possibility but not a certainty.

conceivably during

Replaces "possibly" with "conceivably", implying that something is imaginable but not definite.

it's possible that during

Adds a clause to explicitly state the possibility, making the uncertainty clearer.

it is conceivable that during

Adds a clause to explicitly state the conceivability, making the uncertainty clearer.

potentially in the course of

Replaces "possibly during" with a more formal phrase that conveys the same sense of uncertain timing.

perhaps in the midst of

Offers a slightly different phrasing, using "in the midst of" to indicate a time frame with uncertainty.

it could be that during

Emphasizes the possibility with "it could be", indicating uncertainty.

at some point during

Focuses on the indefinite timing using "at some point", implying uncertainty about the specific moment.

FAQs

How can I use "possibly during" in a sentence?

Use "possibly during" to indicate that an event might happen within a specific timeframe, without being certain. For example, "The error occurred, "possibly during" the system update".

What phrases are similar to "possibly during"?

Alternatives include "perhaps while", "maybe during", or "potentially during", all of which convey a similar sense of uncertainty about timing.

Is it more appropriate to use "possibly during" or "certainly during"?

"Possibly during" indicates uncertainty, while "certainly during" implies a confirmed timeframe. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects your level of knowledge about the timing of the event.

How does "possibly during" differ from "definitely during"?

"Possibly during" suggests a potential occurrence within a timeframe, whereas "definitely during" asserts a confirmed occurrence within that period. The key difference is the level of certainty conveyed.