the second that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the second that" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an immediate action or event that occurs at the same time as another event. Example: "I will call you the second that I arrive at the airport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I want the BBC to look at the second that shouldn't interfere with the first".

Independent

America had only two bombs, and it was the second that (narrowly) persuaded Japan to surrender.

The Economist

"Warren knew that the second that press release hit the wires, Sokol's professional career was over.

The New York Times

And the second that happened, there were no more nerves for me.

The New York Times - Arts

But it was this, the second, that got the foot-stompingly warm reception.

The Guardian - Music

It's in that gap between the first and the second that laughs can be found.

The Guardian

"Maybe two in the first half and two in the second, that is all".

The Guardian - Sport

This is the second; that was the first.

TechCrunch

It is the second that is at issue.

SEP

There are apparently spoilers for the first season, but apparently not the second — that comes later.

TechCrunch

This raid was the second that day, with another scheduled for later in the afternoon.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the second that" to create a sense of immediacy and urgency in your writing. It effectively conveys that two events occurred almost simultaneously.

Common error

Avoid using future tenses after "the second that" when describing past events. Instead, use the past simple tense to maintain grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the second that" functions as a time conjunction, linking two clauses to indicate that one event occurs immediately after the other. Ludwig confirms its correct usage and provides examples in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the second that" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that one event follows immediately after another. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is frequently found in news and media contexts, serving to emphasize the close temporal connection and create a sense of immediacy. While it can be replaced with alternatives like "as soon as" or "the moment that", "the second that" provides a specific nuance that is valuable in effective communication. When using this phrase, ensure correct tense usage and consider the slight formality it implies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as soon as

Emphasizes the lack of delay between two events.

the instant that

Highlights the instantaneous nature of the action.

the moment that

Similar to "the second that" but uses a different unit of time.

immediately after

Focuses on the temporal sequence with no gap.

the minute that

Similar to "the second that" but refers to a minute.

right when

Informal way to indicate simultaneous events.

directly when

Stresses the direct temporal link.

once

Implies that an action begins immediately after a condition is met.

upon

Formal alternative indicating immediate succession.

no sooner than

Emphasizes the swiftness of the following action.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "the second that"?

You can use alternatives like "as soon as", "the moment that", or "immediately after depending on the context.

How to use "the second that" in a sentence?

"The second that" is used to indicate that something happens immediately after something else. Example: "The second that the door opened, everyone rushed inside."

Is it correct to use future tense after "the second that"?

When referring to future events, it's generally correct to use the present simple tense after "the second that", not the future tense. For example: "I will call you the second that I arrive", not "the second that I will arrive".

What's the difference between "the second that" and "as soon as"?

Both phrases imply immediacy, but "the second that" often conveys a stronger sense of instantaneous action compared to "as soon as".