still not dark

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "still not dark" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where it remains light outside, typically in the context of time of day or weather conditions. Example: "Even at 8 PM, it is still not dark, which is unusual for this time of year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Still not dark enough.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But at 10pm in the southern hemisphere summer, it is still not dark in Argentina's capital.

The Economist

It's still not dark!" he said.

BBC

Use blue cautiously Only add blue when you have at least put 3 teaspoons in and 1 drop of blue and you're confident it is still not dark enough and only add blue slowly If it seems to be too purple, you'll have to start again unfortunately, you cannot fix it just by adding more red.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The windy tumult of the day before was gone; it was still but not dark.

The New York Times - Travel

Large sections of the county are still not effectively policed, especially after dark.

The Guardian

But when the scientists added a 1 percent chunk to the dark area, that was enough to tip the balance: Even though there was still not as much oat in the dark, 80 percent of the mold now oozed in that direction.

The New York Times - Science

The nature of dark energy is still not well understood.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The formation of sombric horizons (dark horizons in the subsoil) is still not understood.

Geoderma

Take the item into a dark area like a closet or windowless bathroom if you're still not sure.

WikiHow

"This movie is not dark.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "still not dark" to describe situations where you expect darkness but it hasn't arrived yet, such as late evenings in summer or places with long daylight hours.

Common error

Avoid using "still not dark" in highly formal or technical writing. More precise or descriptive language might be more appropriate. For example, instead of writing "the experiment could not be performed as it was still not dark", use a sentence such as "the experiment was delayed due to the prolonged daylight hours".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "still not dark" primarily functions as a descriptive phrase. It's used to describe the state of illumination, specifically the absence of darkness at a time when darkness is expected or typical. As Ludwig shows, this phrase often appears in narrative or descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

17%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "still not dark" is a grammatically sound and comprehensible way to describe a situation where darkness is expected but hasn't yet arrived. Ludwig's analysis shows the phrase is most common in News & Media and Wiki contexts, indicating a neutral to informal register. While grammatically correct, it might be less appropriate for highly formal or technical writing where more descriptive language may be preferred. While infrequent in occurrence, as reported by Ludwig, the phrase effectively communicates the state of illumination and may carry a sense of surprise or observation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not dark yet

Reorders the words slightly to emphasize the lack of darkness at the current time.

still light out

Focuses on the presence of light rather than the absence of darkness.

daylight persists

A more formal way of saying it's still light, emphasizing the continuation of daylight.

light remains

Similar to 'daylight persists' but more concise.

not yet night

Highlights that nighttime has not yet arrived.

evening lingers

More poetic; suggests the evening is lasting longer than expected.

the sun is still up

Directly refers to the sun's position in the sky.

dawn is slow to arrive

Emphasizes the lateness of dawn.

dusk is prolonged

Highlights the extension of the dusk period.

light is holding on

Expresses the idea that light is persisting.

FAQs

How can I use "still not dark" in a sentence?

You can use "still not dark" to describe a time or situation where darkness is expected, but has not yet arrived. For instance, "It's 10 PM, but it's "still not dark" outside."

What is a more formal way to say "still not dark"?

More formal alternatives include "daylight persists", "night has not yet fallen", or "darkness has not yet arrived". These phrases are suitable for professional or academic writing.

What's the difference between "still not dark" and "not dark yet"?

"Still not dark" and "not dark yet" are very similar. "Still not dark" implies a sense of surprise or expectation that it should be dark already, while "not dark yet" is a more neutral statement of fact.

Can "still not dark" be used to describe something other than the time of day?

While primarily used to describe the time of day, "still not dark" could be used metaphorically to describe a situation that has not yet become negative or ominous, but this usage is less common. For example, "The financial outlook was uncertain, but "still not dark"."