relation to when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relation to when" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear and may confuse readers, as it lacks proper context and structure. Example: "In relation to when the project is due, we need to finalize our plans."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

These issues were not issues in relation to when Ian was chief financial officer.

The Guardian - Business

Clarke revealed that the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, is currently drawing up new guidelines in relation to "when journalists who paid for stories could be prosecuted under the Bribery Act".

The Guardian

I know that there are those who argue that there cannot be a public inquiry during an ongoing investigation – and I noted the prime minister's earlier comments, when he seemed to vacillate in relation to when that process could or could not start – but I think they are wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

The answer is probably that it depends on when the actual experience is in relation to when you made the purchase.

TechCrunch

"We could actually look at when these zinc fingers arose in relation to when these transposons were active and could see this really interesting evolutionary story," says Sofie Salama, a UC Santa Cruz biologist involved in the study.

Science Magazine

Table 4 shows the timing of mastitis in relation to when women stopped breastfeeding.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The WHO estimates that approximately 195 000 people died from fire-related injuries in 2008 worldwide, 22 which is a decrease of almost 40% in relation to 2004 when the WHO estimated burns by fire-related injuries to be 310 000.

BMJ Open

It was unclear where Mr. Walker was in relation to Dasean when he was shot.

The New York Times

Woods holds the lowest score in relation to par, when his 272 was 12 under par at Pebble Beach in 2000.

The New York Times - Sports

The documentary was made by Kevin Burns (no relation to Ken Burns) when he was a 23-year-old film student working on a master's degree at Boston University.

The New York Times

But it's cheap at only one times revenue and will look cheap in relation to earnings when earnings return.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, replace the phrase "relation to when" with clearer and more precise alternatives like "regarding when" or "in terms of when" to improve readability and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using overly complex prepositional phrases such as "relation to when" when simpler alternatives like "regarding" or "concerning" can convey the same meaning more directly and effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relation to when" functions as a temporal connector, attempting to link events based on their timing. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it is not considered grammatically correct and lacks clarity. Examples show its use in various contexts, but with potential for clearer alternatives.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

28%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "relation to when" appears in a variety of sources, it's generally considered grammatically questionable and lacks clarity. As Ludwig AI indicates, simpler and more precise alternatives such as "regarding when" or "in terms of when" are often preferable. The phrase is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, but its usage can be improved by opting for clearer alternatives that enhance readability and grammatical correctness. It's advisable to avoid this phrase in formal writing to maintain a professional tone and ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regarding when

This alternative focuses on specifying the time something occurs.

in terms of when

This option emphasizes defining the specific timing of an event or action.

with respect to when

A more formal way of indicating a point in time as a reference.

concerning when

This phrase highlights what point in time is being addressed.

relative to the time when

Specifies a direct connection based on temporal order.

dependent on when

This alternative indicates that something varies based on a time contingency.

contingent on when

Highlights conditionality based on a certain time.

contingent upon when

Highlights conditionality based on a certain time.

subject to when

This option suggests that an event is conditional on a particular timeframe.

depending on the timing of

This emphasizes the impact of a scheduled occurrence.

FAQs

How can I use "relation to when" in a sentence?

While grammatically questionable, you might use "relation to when" to connect two events based on time. However, it's clearer to use phrases like "regarding when" or "in terms of when" instead.

What's a better alternative to "relation to when"?

Consider alternatives such as "regarding when", "in terms of when", or "with respect to when" for greater clarity.

Is "relation to when" grammatically correct?

Grammatically, "relation to when" can be awkward. It's often better to rephrase using options like "concerning when" or "dependent on when" for improved sentence structure.

When should I avoid using "relation to when" in my writing?

Avoid using "relation to when" in formal or professional writing. Instead, choose more precise and clear alternatives such as "relative to the time when" or "subject to when" to enhance clarity.