sometime this evening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sometime this evening" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an unspecified time during the evening hours. Example: "I will call you sometime this evening to discuss our plans for tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Our aim is to stay for over 48 hours in total so we will be leaving sometime this evening, however we are using this opportunity to open dialogue with the university and to ensure that they know that we will take more action if they do not become more active in fighting the education cuts and rejecting the new tuition fees system.

The Guardian

Sometime this evening, when the prison is locked up for the night, out of the sight of other inmates, the coffin will be filled with quicklime.

The Guardian

"Could she phone me back sometime this evening?

The New Yorker

"But we still continue to believe the individual mandate being delayed is in the best interest of the American people and the bill will come to the floor sometime this evening".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Sometime between 1800 B.C. and 1500 B.C., the Beauty of Xiahoe was buried.

The New York Times - Arts

Police believe Richard Wheeler & his wife, Grace, a real estate agent were killed sometime last night.

Independent

Sometime last night, between one and two in the morning, Ned Yost, the manager of the Kansas City Royals, emerged from the bowels of Citi Field and paused at a glass door between the field and the stands.

The New Yorker

Sometime last night, let's hope many sports fans took a moment while in front of their televisions to remember fondly the major societal contribution of the co-inventor of the remote control, Eugene Polley, who died at age 96 on Tuesday.

The New York Times - Sports

He wouldn't say for what or for whom he was reserving that 1percentt, but we may assume that Divac became convinced sometime last night that the Nets, the Sacramento Kings Eastern Conferencee cousins and practitioners of the same Princeton offense, might rate the long shot.

The New York Times - Sports

I was disabled sometime last night (Friday).

TechCrunch

According to Tweetmeme, bit.ly overtook TinyURL sometime last night.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sometime this evening" when you want to indicate that an event will occur during the evening but the exact time is not yet known or not important to specify.

Common error

While "sometime this evening" is acceptable, relying too heavily on vague time references can make your writing less precise. If you have a specific time in mind, even an approximate one, consider using it for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sometime this evening" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause by indicating when an action will occur. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and fit for use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sometime this evening" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate that something will occur during the evening without specifying an exact time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While relatively infrequent, it is primarily found in news and media contexts. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "during this evening". Remember to avoid overuse of vague time references to maintain clarity in your writing. The phrase is suitable for both formal and informal situations where precise timing is not essential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

later this evening

This alternative emphasizes the progression of time within the evening.

at some point this evening

This phrase adds a slight degree of uncertainty about the exact timing.

during this evening

This option is a more formal way of expressing the time frame.

tonight at some time

Reorders the elements, emphasizing 'tonight' and adding vagueness with 'at some time'.

this evening eventually

This alternative focuses on the eventual occurrence within the specified evening.

in the course of the evening

More formal alternative, highlighting the duration during which something may happen.

at a certain moment this evening

Emphasizes a particular but unspecified moment in the evening.

any time this evening

Suggests the possibility of something happening at any moment during the evening.

this evening at an unspecified time

Explicitly states that the time is not defined within the evening.

before the night is over

Focuses on the completion of the night rather than a specific moment within it.

FAQs

What does "sometime this evening" mean?

The phrase "sometime this evening" means at an unspecified point during the evening hours, typically between late afternoon and night.

What can I say instead of "sometime this evening"?

You can use alternatives like "later this evening", "at some point this evening", or "during this evening" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "sometime this evening" or a specific time?

It depends on the context. Use "sometime this evening" when the exact time isn't important or known. Use a specific time when precision is necessary.

Is "sometime this evening" formal or informal?

"Sometime this evening" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal options like "during this evening" may be preferred in certain situations.