this time yesterday

USAGE SUMMARY

"this time yesterday" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to refer to an event or situation that took place at the same time on the preceding day. For example, "I was doing the same thing this time yesterday - just sitting and watching TV."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

It cast a dismal sheen on the protests which, at this time yesterday, had seemed almost triumphant.

The New Yorker

149th over: India 420-8 (Zaheer Khan 0 Mishra 2) One from Anderson's over, who isn't getting quite as much swing as this time yesterday.

The Guardian - Sport

That one extra player might just be the one we need, the one that makes all the difference, even if we hadn't thought of him or even heard of him at this time yesterday.

The Guardian - Sport

He added: "We are the number one target in the world, but as far as this investigation, and working with the FBI, I know that I'm a lot happier than I was at this time yesterday".

The Guardian

This is a rather surprising turn of events, considering that Boyd, a lank-haired midfielder, was reported to be in talks with Crystal Palace this time yesterday after the two clubs had agreed terms over the transfer.

The Guardian - Sport

Conditions were almost as bad at this time yesterday, however, and cleared up beautifully in time for the afternoon's action, so here's hoping that some midday sunshine does the trick once more.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

This time tomorrow?

The New York Times

"I think back to this time last year.

The Guardian

This time last year, Dancing Rain was hopeless.

Independent

But this time last year?

The Guardian - Sport

This time last year, Forlán was irrepressible.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this time yesterday" to provide a clear temporal reference point, creating a sense of comparison or contrast between past and present situations. For example, "This time yesterday, the market was booming; today, it faces a downturn."

Common error

Avoid using "this time yesterday" when the context requires a more specific or nuanced temporal reference. For example, don't say "This time yesterday, I finished the project" if the key information is the completion date, not a comparison to the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this time yesterday" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when something occurred in relation to the present moment. Ludwig examples show it pinpointing specific circumstances from the day prior.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this time yesterday" is a useful adverbial phrase for making temporal comparisons, commonly found in news and media contexts. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and serves to establish a clear reference point for contrasting past and present scenarios. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives might be preferable in academic or scientific writing. The examples curated by Ludwig showcase its consistent usage across various authoritative sources, making it a reliable choice for indicating a specific time on the preceding day.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

24 hours ago

Focuses on the duration of time elapsed rather than the specific time of day.

Yesterday at this hour

Reorders the phrase for emphasis, highlighting the hour of the previous day.

At this hour yesterday

Similar structure with a slightly different emphasis.

Previous day at the same time

More formal and descriptive, suitable for technical or precise contexts.

The same time the day before

Emphasizes the comparison between the current time and the time on the previous day.

A day ago at this point

Highlights the 'point' in time aspect, suggesting a specific event or state.

This time on the prior day

Uses 'prior' for a slightly more formal tone, emphasizing the sequence of days.

Exactly 24 hours earlier

Highlights the precise time difference.

Yesterday around this time

Less precise, allows for a bit of leeway in the exact time.

The corresponding time yesterday

Formal phrasing, emphasizing correspondence.

FAQs

How can I use "this time yesterday" in a sentence?

Use "this time yesterday" to compare a past situation with the current one. For example, "This time yesterday, the weather was sunny; today, it's raining."

What's a good alternative to "this time yesterday"?

Alternatives include "24 hours ago", "yesterday at this hour", or "the previous day at the same time", depending on the level of formality and precision needed.

Is "this time yesterday" formal or informal?

"This time yesterday" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives exist if a higher degree of formality is required.

Can I use "this time yesterday" to refer to something that happened earlier in the day?

While "this time yesterday" typically refers to the same hour on the previous day, it can be used more loosely to refer to events that occurred around the same period of the day, provided the context is clear.