the time that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the time that" is correct and can be used in written English.
It usually introduces a clause that states when something happened or will happen. Example: I will never forget the time that we spent together.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

At the time, that was "big".

The New York Times

At the time, that was an improvement.

The New York Times

At the time that was huge.

Independent

At the time, that was enough.

The New York Times - Sports

Most of the time, that is.

The New York Times

"At the time, that was expensive.

The New York Times

At the time, that possibility seemed slim.

The New York Times

At the time, that was Heydar Aliyev.

The New York Times - Magazine

Most of the time, that works out pretty well.

The New York Times

As pundits predicted at the time, that was an overestimate.

The Economist

THE TIME THAT REMAINS Opens on Friday in Manhattan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When possible replace "the time that" with "when" for conciseness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "the time that" in conjunction with other redundant temporal markers within the same clause. For example, instead of writing "During the time that it rained", simply write "When it rained".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the time that" functions as a subordinating conjunction, introducing a dependent clause that specifies a particular point or period in time. It connects this temporal clause to an independent clause, providing context for when an event occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

21%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the time that" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that introduces a clause specifying a moment or duration. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it is frequently replaceable by "when" for conciseness. It appears most often in news and media, as well as in wikis and scientific publications. Pay attention to possible redundancies and consider that other alternatives may improve the style or give different emphasis. Remember using the right and more specific alternative, will improve communication

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when

A more concise way to refer to a specific point in time.

the moment that

Emphasizes a precise instant rather than a duration.

during the period when

More formal and emphasizes the duration of an event.

the occasion when

Highlights a specific event or instance.

the instance that

Focuses on a single occurrence or example.

at which point

Indicates a transition or a specific stage in a process.

the day that

Specifies a particular day something happened.

the year that

Specifies a particular year something happened.

while

Indicates simultaneous actions or events.

as soon as

Highlights the immediacy of one event following another.

FAQs

How can I use "the time that" in a sentence?

"The time that" introduces a clause specifying when something happened. For example, "I remember "the time that we met"."

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

You can use alternatives like "when", "the moment that", or "during the period when", depending on the specific context and desired emphasis. For instance, using "when" often provides a more concise alternative.

Is it better to use "the time that" or just "when"?

While both are grammatically correct, "when" is often more concise and preferred in many contexts. "The time that" can add emphasis but might sometimes sound slightly redundant. For instance, instead of "I remember the time that we went to the beach", consider saying "I remember "when we went to the beach"".

What's the difference between "the time that" and "the moment that"?

"The time that" refers to a period, whereas "the moment that" refers to a specific instant. Using "the moment that" emphasizes the immediacy of an event. For example, "I knew it was time to leave "the moment that I saw him"" conveys a more instantaneous realization than "I knew it was time to leave "the time that I saw him"".