proper time for

USAGE SUMMARY

"proper time for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to an appropriate moment to do something. For example, "It's not the proper time for making decisions in such a rush."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

"There needs to be some proper time for reflection.

The Guardian - Sport

What can I know of the proper time for her, she said to herself.

The New Yorker

No proper time for recuperation, no energy, tough scheduling, the difficulty of staying focused, etc, etc.

The Guardian - Sport

Both versions must reach their destination at the proper time for the message to be decoded.

Princeton University

"We think that we should wait until a proper time for such a meeting comes".

The New York Times

The proper time for "grabling" a new potato — searching underground with your fingers; who knew that verb?

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Though the pharaoh was symbolically significant in the feasts and festivals of ancient Egypt, the priests of the various cults officiated in the rituals and sacrifices to the many gods and announced the proper times for the differing forms of celebrations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Because of this, choose proper times for sitting outside so the noises of cars and birds will not overwhelm you.

WikiHow

Each zone helps gardeners understand their particular climate, and teaches gardeners how to plant vegetable seeds outdoors during the proper time of year for the best results.

WikiHow

If you are taking any of these, don't quit, but be sure to consult your physician for proper time changes for your trip.

Los Angeles Times

For the NB distribution based GARX models, first, the forward stepwise method is used to select proper time lags for the mean in Eq. (5).

Pacific Journal of Mathematics for Industry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "proper time for", ensure that the context clearly indicates what activity or event the timing is relevant to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "proper time for" interchangeably with phrases that simply indicate a duration of time, such as "enough time for". "Proper time for" implies an opportune or appropriate moment, not just a quantity of time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proper time for" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb, indicating the suitability or appropriateness of a particular moment. Ludwig's examples show its usage in diverse contexts, from political discussions to agricultural practices.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

22%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "proper time for" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to denote the most appropriate moment for an action or event. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and finds frequent usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. When writing, it is important to use it with a clear indication of what the timing refers to, differentiating it from phrases that only express a duration. Alternatives like "appropriate moment for" or "suitable occasion for" can be used for variety. Ludwig's examples demonstrate the phrase's utility in conveying the suitability of timing in various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appropriate moment for

Replaces "proper time" with "appropriate moment", focusing on a specific point in time.

suitable occasion for

Substitutes "proper time" with "suitable occasion", emphasizing the right circumstances.

opportune time for

Replaces "proper time" with "opportune time", highlighting a particularly advantageous moment.

ideal moment for

Substitutes "proper time" with "ideal moment", emphasizing the best possible timing.

right timing for

Replaces "proper time" with "right timing", focusing on the correctness of the temporal aspect.

designated time for

Changes "proper time" to "designated time", highlighting a previously allocated time.

the correct time for

Uses "correct time" instead of "proper time", emphasizing accuracy.

an adequate period for

Shifts focus from a specific moment to a sufficient duration.

the due time for

Replaces "proper time" with "due time", referring to a scheduled or expected time.

sufficient time for

Highlights having enough time, rather than the appropriateness of the moment itself.

FAQs

How can I use "proper time for" in a sentence?

Use "proper time for" to indicate that an activity or event should occur at the most suitable or appropriate moment. For instance, "Now is not the "proper time for" such discussions" suggests that the timing is currently unsuitable.

What are some alternatives to "proper time for"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "appropriate moment for", "suitable occasion for", or "opportune time for" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "proper time for" and "right time for"?

While similar, ""proper time for"" often implies a greater sense of appropriateness or decorum, while "right time for" can simply mean the correct or most effective moment.

When is it inappropriate to use "proper time for"?

Avoid using "proper time for" when simply referring to a duration or quantity of time. Phrases like "sufficient time for" are more suitable when the focus is on having enough time to complete a task.