the other day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'the other day' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiomatic expression that is commonly used to refer to a time in the near past, usually within the same week. For example: "The other day, I was walking down the street when I saw an old friend I hadn't seen in years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Just the other day!

The Guardian - Music

Legislature the other day.

The New York Times

event the other day.

The New York Times

It happened the other day.

The New York Times

Met him the other day.

The Guardian

Ahed won the other day.

The Guardian - Sport

My cell phone broke the other day.

Yale University

"I was thinking that the other day.

The Guardian

We didn't, either, until the other day.

The New York Times

The other day, a brainstorm hit.

The New York Times

"I met Jackie Chan the other day.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the other day" to refer to a specific but not necessarily important or memorable day in the recent past. Avoid using it when a more precise date or timeframe is needed.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on vague time references like "the other day" in formal writing or when precision is necessary. Providing specific dates or timeframes enhances clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the other day" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating when an action occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common way to refer to a time in the recent past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

12%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the other day" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate a time in the recent past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is an idiomatic expression. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts where specifying the exact date is unnecessary. For formal or scientific writing, more precise time references are recommended. The phrase sees frequent use in News & Media and academic writing, but should be used with caution in formal contexts. Alternatives like "recently" or "a few days ago" can provide a similar meaning with varying degrees of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few days ago

More specific, indicating a period of several days in the past.

in the past few days

Highlights the recency and the span of multiple days.

recently

A more general term indicating a time not long ago.

in recent days

Emphasizes the occurrence over a period of several days.

lately

Similar to 'recently' but often implies a current trend or situation.

earlier this week

Specifically refers to a time within the current week.

not long ago

A less precise way of indicating a time in the near past.

in the recent past

More formal and emphasizes that the event happened in the observable past.

in the preceding days

Focuses on the days leading up to the present.

just now

Refers to something that happened very shortly before the present moment.

FAQs

How can I use "the other day" in a sentence?

Use "the other day" to refer to a time in the recent past when the exact day is not important. For example, "I saw her "the other day" at the grocery store."

What are some alternatives to saying "the other day"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "recently", "lately", or "a few days ago".

Is it appropriate to use "the other day" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "the other day" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use more precise language, like specifying "last week" or providing an exact date.

What's the difference between "the other day" and "yesterday"?

"Yesterday" refers specifically to the day immediately before today. "The other day" refers to a day in the recent past, but not necessarily the day before today. It implies a less specific timeframe.