this afternoon

USAGE SUMMARY

"this afternoon" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the afternoon of the same day, for example: "I plan to finish this project this afternoon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Alan's here this afternoon.

The New York Times

17 Stanford this afternoon.

The New York Times

"Dolly called this afternoon.

The New Yorker

Rendezvous in midtown this afternoon?

The New York Times

Cairo is quiet this afternoon.

The New Yorker

Four o'clock this afternoon, sharp.

The New Yorker

State until this afternoon".

The New York Times - Sports

Visited Maia this afternoon.

The New Yorker

later this afternoon.

The New York Times

Combat continued this afternoon.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I'm free until later this afternoon".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this afternoon" to refer to a specific time frame on the current day. It's best used when the context makes it clear you're not talking about a past or future date.

Common error

Avoid using "this afternoon" when you actually mean "yesterday afternoon" or "tomorrow afternoon". Be precise in your time references to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this afternoon" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an action or event takes place. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this afternoon" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to specify the afternoon of the current day. Ludwig AI confirms that it's usable in written English. It is most frequently found in News & Media contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis of real-world examples. When writing, ensure that you are clear about the timing and avoid confusion with other time references. You can also consider using alternatives such as "later today" or "this pm" depending on the level of formality required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this same afternoon

Emphasizes that it's the same afternoon being discussed.

later today

Broader term indicating a time after the present but within the same day.

later on this day

Similar to 'later today', but with a slightly more formal tone.

sometime this afternoon

Suggests an unspecified time within the afternoon.

this pm

Abbreviated, informal version of "this afternoon".

after midday today

Specifically indicates the time after 12:00 PM on the current day.

in the afternoon

More general, doesn't necessarily refer to the current day.

the latter part of today

More descriptive, indicating the second half of the day.

during the afternoon hours

More descriptive and somewhat formal alternative.

subsequently this day

Formal alternative, emphasizing the sequence of events.

FAQs

How can I use "this afternoon" in a sentence?

"This afternoon" is used to refer to the afternoon of the current day. For example, "I have a meeting scheduled for "this afternoon"."

What's a more formal way to say "this afternoon"?

While "this afternoon" is generally acceptable, you could use "later today" or "during the afternoon hours" for a slightly more formal tone, depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "this afternoon" if it's already evening?

It's generally best to avoid using "this afternoon" once the afternoon has passed. Instead, use phrases like "earlier today" or specify the time more precisely.

What's the difference between "this afternoon" and "in the afternoon"?

"This afternoon" refers to the afternoon of the current day, while "in the afternoon" is more general and doesn't necessarily refer to a specific day. You can use "I usually go for a walk "in the afternoon"" to talk about a habit.