set aside a day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "set aside a day" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that you are reserving a specific day for a particular purpose or activity. Example: "I need to set aside a day next week to focus on my project without any distractions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Sometimes I set aside a day when I think about my home state, Kentucky, and appreciate it.

The New Yorker

Set aside a day to visit – a working farm, Victorian village with a fabulous schoolroom and an ever-evolving museum of workhouse life.

The Guardian - Travel

First-time visitors should set aside a day, hire a taxi and spend the afternoon floating on gondolas in the canals of Xochimilco nearby.

The New York Times - Arts

No matter how busy we were visiting friends and family, we always set aside a day or two at the shore.

The New York Times

If we no longer set aside a day to be shocked, that may be because a mass shooting is no longer so shocking.

The New Yorker

Those at BBC Sussex and BBC Surrey point to One Day, One Hundred Lives, a year-long project following 100 listeners, for which the stations occasionally set aside a day of programming.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

As a pre-schooler, she was afraid to ride her bicycle without training wheels, and so my husband eagerly set aside a Saturday to teach her.

Huffington Post

In fact, he sets aside a day every month to spend in a specific town department, soliciting ideas for improvement.

The New York Times

Now, working "almost in real time," she sets aside a day each weekend for rendering portraits of the war's most recent U.S. fatalities.

University of California, Berkeley

You report, "Twice a month, he sets aside a day to see anyone seeking jobs, housing, or even justice for a murdered relative".

The New York Times

"The explanation I offered for such independent behavior was that the Jewish religion, though it sets aside a day for private Atonement, offers no mechanics for forgiveness...

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When planning a complex project, "set aside a day" for initial brainstorming and outlining to ensure a focused and productive start.

Common error

Avoid rigidly scheduling every moment of your "set aside a day". Build in buffer time for unexpected delays or creative breakthroughs to prevent feeling rushed or stressed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "set aside a day" functions as an idiomatic expression. It's commonly used as part of a verb phrase to indicate the act of allocating or reserving a specific day for a particular purpose, as shown in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "set aside a day" is a common and grammatically correct idiomatic expression used to convey the act of allocating or reserving a specific day for a particular purpose. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-understood and readily usable in various contexts. It appears frequently in News & Media, Wiki and Academic settings. While alternatives like ""allocate a day"" or ""reserve a day"" exist, "set aside a day" remains a clear and effective way to communicate the idea of dedicating time to a specific task or activity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allocate a day

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the act of distributing or assigning time.

reserve a day

This alternative focuses on keeping a day free for a particular use.

dedicate a day

This suggests committing a day to a specific activity or purpose with a sense of importance.

designate a day

Similar to allocate, but implies a more official or formal assignment of a day.

schedule a day

This alternative focuses on planning and incorporating a day into a timetable.

earmark a day

This is less common but highlights setting aside a day specifically from a larger block of time or resources.

block out a day

This is a more informal way to say that a day has been reserved on a calendar and is unavailable for other activities.

free up a day

This alternative emphasizes making a day available by clearing other commitments.

allot a day

Similar to 'allocate', 'allot' implies assigning a specific amount of time, in this case, a day.

make time for a day

This option shifts the focus to creating the opportunity for the day, implying effort in finding the time.

FAQs

How can I use "set aside a day" in a sentence?

You can use "set aside a day" to indicate reserving a specific day for a particular activity. For example, "I need to "set aside a day" to complete this report."

What are some alternatives to "set aside a day"?

Alternatives include "allocate a day", "reserve a day", or "dedicate a day", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "set aside a day" or "set a day aside"?

"Set aside a day" is the more common and natural-sounding phrasing. "Set a day aside" is grammatically correct but less frequently used.

What does it mean to "set aside a day" for something?

To "set aside a day" for something means to specifically reserve that day for that purpose, ensuring that time is dedicated to that activity.