the date when

USAGE SUMMARY

"the date when" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example: "I remember the date when my mother passed away - 22nd October, 2018."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

2020 – the date when an agreement would come into force.

The Guardian

The date when such parents or spouse acquired citizenship.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The date when the season was first observed is uncertain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Barring surprises, the date when the government faces this matter may not be far away.

The New York Times

"Ultimately we will pick the date when we have a finished game," he said.

The Guardian - Tech

The date when the statement must be filed varies according to when the person is nominated.

The New York Times

It was March 31st, the date when the snow becomes simply perfect for skiing.

The New Yorker

Portable blackboards list the name of each beer and the date when the keg was tapped.

The New York Times

"That's where Burt Lancaster takes Susan Sarandon on the date when he wants to impress her.

The New Yorker

The article also misstated the date when Mr. Sendak and his companion moved to Connecticut.

The New York Times - Books

The date, when converted to the Julian calendar (April 11, 80 bce), is exactly correct.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the date when" to clearly specify a particular point in time when an event occurred or will occur. This helps avoid ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Be careful not to use redundant phrasing such as "the date that when". Stick to either "the date when" or "the date that" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the date when" functions as an adverbial phrase introducing a relative clause that modifies a noun (date). It specifies a particular point in time related to an event or condition, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the date when" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that introduces a relative clause specifying a particular point in time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely accepted in written English. It is most commonly found in news, scientific, and general contexts, serving the purpose of providing temporal precision. While alternatives like "the time that" or "the day that" exist, "the date when" offers a clear and direct way to pinpoint when an event occurred or will occur. Be mindful to avoid redundancy by not using "the date that when".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the day that

Uses "day" instead of "date", specifying a particular day.

the time that

Replaces "date" with "time", focusing on the moment something occurs.

the instance that

Emphasizes a particular occurrence or event.

the occasion when

Substitutes "date" with "occasion", highlighting a specific event.

the point at which

Focuses on the specific point in time when something occurs.

the moment that

Emphasizes the exact instant something happens.

the juncture when

Uses "juncture" to indicate a critical point in time.

the period when

Replaces "date" with "period", referring to a span of time.

the stage when

Highlights a phase or stage in time.

the epoch when

Replaces 'date' with 'epoch', referring to a notable period in history or someone's life.

FAQs

How can I use "the date when" in a sentence?

Use "the date when" to specify a particular point in time. For example, "I remember the date when I first met her."

What's a more concise alternative to "the date when"?

Depending on the context, you could use "the day that", "the time that", or simply the specific date itself to be more concise.

Is it grammatically correct to say "the date that when"?

No, "the date that when" is redundant. It's better to use either "the date when" or "the date that".

What is the difference between "the date when" and "the date that"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "the date when" explicitly refers to time, whereas "the date that" can refer to a more general condition or event associated with the date. For example, "The date when the contract expires" versus "The date that the project began".