this late afternoon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this late afternoon" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe a particular afternoon in the past that happened late in the day, e.g. "I went for a walk this late afternoon and watched the sunset."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

At Matty Healy's north-east London house there is hustle and bustle this late afternoon.

Independent

On this late afternoon, he apologizes for running a few minutes late.

The New York Times

Bone-white roots clawed at the air on this late afternoon; Gardner's grandchildren climbed across them.

The New York Times - Magazine

While being shaved at a barbershop, he composes a poem ("The bullets buzz on this late afternoon...O)...O

The New Yorker

Their tender account of Stephen Collins Foster's "Beautiful Child of Song" set the warm and personal tone for this late afternoon of music.

The New York Times - Arts

It's so devastatingly beautiful that the other visitors to the park at this late afternoon hour — a group of Asian tourists, a set of scrubs-wearing American doctors and a class of high schoolers from somewhere up North — seem utterly unconcerned with the devastating beauty posing recklessly for the camera.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Ms Hodge welcomed this last night.

Independent

I was thinking about this, this morning.

Yale University

You know I mentioned this last night.

The New York Times

EW: I was just talking about this this morning.

The Washington Post

"But I was thinking about this, this morning.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this late afternoon" to clearly specify an event occurring in the latter part of the afternoon on the current day, providing a sense of immediacy and specificity to your writing. For example: "I plan to finish the report this late afternoon."

Common error

Don't use "this late afternoon" interchangeably with "this afternoon" if you intend to convey that the event happened specifically towards the end of the afternoon. "This afternoon" is a broader term and may cause confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this late afternoon" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying when an action takes place. It pinpoints a specific time frame within the current day, denoting the later portion of the afternoon. Ludwig examples show its use in various narrative and descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this late afternoon" is a grammatically sound and common adverbial phrase used to specify that an event happens in the latter part of the afternoon on the current day. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across diverse sources, predominantly in News & Media. While acceptable in both formal and informal contexts, it provides a neutral and specific temporal reference. For alternatives, consider "later this afternoon" or "towards the end of the afternoon". Ensure you use it when you want to clearly indicate the latter portion of the afternoon to avoid any ambiguity. Use the phrase "this late afternoon" to clearly specify an event occurring in the latter part of the afternoon on the current day, providing a sense of immediacy and specificity to your writing. For example: "I plan to finish the report this late afternoon."

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

later this afternoon

Focuses on a time shortly after the current moment within the same afternoon, less specific about how late in the afternoon.

during the latter part of the afternoon

Specifies that the event occurred in the second half of the afternoon.

this afternoon

A broader term encompassing the entire period from noon until evening, without specifying the lateness.

towards the end of the afternoon

Emphasizes the approaching conclusion of the afternoon period.

in the closing stages of the afternoon

Similar to 'towards the end', but may imply a more significant or climactic event.

in the waning hours of the afternoon

A more descriptive and literary way to refer to the final hours of the afternoon.

at the tail end of the afternoon

Informal way to denote the very end of the afternoon period.

as the afternoon drew to a close

Highlights the gradual ending of the afternoon, suitable for narrative contexts.

in the twilight of the afternoon

Poetic phrasing emphasizing the fading light and approaching evening.

near the end of daylight hours

Focuses on the diminishing daylight, broader than just the afternoon.

FAQs

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

You can use "this late afternoon" to specify that something will happen or has happened in the latter part of the afternoon of the current day. For example: "I'm expecting a package "this late afternoon"."

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

"This afternoon" is a general term that refers to any time between noon and evening on the current day. "This late afternoon" specifically refers to the latter part of the afternoon.

What can I say instead of "this late afternoon"?

You can use alternatives like "later this afternoon", or "towards the end of the afternoon" depending on the context.

Is "this late afternoon" formal or informal?

The phrase "this late afternoon" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives might include "during the latter part of the afternoon".