unfortunately at the same time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unfortunately at the same time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a negative situation that occurs simultaneously with another event or circumstance. Example: "I had to leave the party early, unfortunately at the same time my friends were having the most fun."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"The hard way, unfortunately". At the same time, the 10th Division has not neglected its training for warfare.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, at the same time, our hero crosses paths with a student named Caitlyn Brie (satire!) who is hellbent on getting into an Ivy League college.

The New York Times - Books

Unfortunately, at the same time that Western mental-health professionals have been convincing the world to think and talk about mental illnesses in biomedical terms, we have been simultaneously losing the war against stigma at home and abroad.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Unfortunately, at the same time, factors beyond our control have created a perfect storm -- a precipitous decline in revenue and a tough economy coupled with a credit crisis that makes it extremely difficult to support our debt". Newspapers have been losing average daily circulation since 1987, though advertising revenue remained high.

The Washington Post

Unfortunately, at the same time that buybacks enrich shareholders they impoverish bondholders.

Forbes

Unfortunately, at the same time, it has always differentiated between religious institutions and other institutions.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But the service can vary wildly; Radisson room service offered to make me any sort of soup I wanted and within 20 minutes delivered a chicken soup that was both refined and homey; the Barometer, an atmospheric little restaurant, delivered excellent appetizers and succulent chicken à la Kiev, unfortunately both at the same time.

The New York Times - Travel

You say, 'I want some.' " Unfortunately, however, at the same time more farmers were becoming crambe converts, new obstacles surfaced.

Los Angeles Times

"Unfortunately, he played at the same time as Michael Jordan.

The New York Times - Sports

Unfortunately, Intel was at the same time involved in producing DRAM memory chips, which were becoming commoditized due to competition from Japanese manufacturers.

Harvard Business Review

Today most companies have a very poorly performing review and training process, because they tie it to the compensation cycle thus limiting feedback to once per year and, unfortunately, doing feedback at the same time (often the same meeting) as compensation and bonus decisions.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unfortunately at the same time", ensure that both events being described are clearly linked and that the unfortunate aspect is relevant to both.

Common error

Avoid using "unfortunately at the same time" too frequently in your writing, as it can make your tone sound overly negative or repetitive. Vary your sentence structure and word choice to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unfortunately at the same time" functions as an adverbial modifier, adding information about the circumstances surrounding an event. Ludwig AI indicates it's used to express a negative situation coinciding with another event.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unfortunately at the same time" serves to express both the simultaneity of two events and the negative connotation associated with one or both. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and indicates a negative situation occurring simultaneously with another. Although classified as 'uncommon' in frequency, it is widely used in news and media, and can also appear in scientific writing. When using this phrase, be mindful of overuse and vary your word choice to maintain an engaging tone. Related phrases such as "regrettably simultaneously" and "sadly concurrently" can add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regrettably simultaneously

Substitutes 'unfortunately' with 'regrettably' and 'at the same time' with 'simultaneously', maintaining a formal tone.

sadly concurrently

Replaces 'unfortunately' with 'sadly' and 'at the same time' with 'concurrently' for a more concise expression.

in an unhappy coincidence

Highlights the unfortunate nature of the situation as a coincidence occurring at the same time.

unluckily in tandem

Replaces 'unfortunately' with 'unluckily' and 'at the same time' with 'in tandem', slightly altering the tone to be more informal.

by ill luck, simultaneously

Emphasizes the element of bad luck and uses 'simultaneously' to convey the timing.

alas, at that moment

Uses 'alas' for 'unfortunately' and 'at that moment' to indicate the time frame, adding a touch of drama.

grievously at once

Uses 'grievously' as a more intense substitute for 'unfortunately', paired with 'at once' for simultaneity.

woefully as it happened

Replaces 'unfortunately' with 'woefully' to convey the negative aspect, while 'as it happened' indicates timing.

it's a pity that it happened then

More verbose alternative expressing regret and indicating the timing of the event.

bad timing, to say the least

Understates the unfortunate nature of the situation with an emphasis on the poor timing.

FAQs

What does "unfortunately at the same time" mean?

The phrase "unfortunately at the same time" indicates that two events are occurring simultaneously, and one of them is undesirable or causes a negative impact. It expresses both simultaneity and regret or disappointment.

How can I rephrase "unfortunately at the same time" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "regrettably simultaneously" or "sadly concurrently". These options maintain the meaning while elevating the level of formality.

Is it always necessary to include "unfortunately" when describing simultaneous events?

No, it is not always necessary. The word "unfortunately" is only needed when one of the events is negative or undesirable. If both events are neutral or positive, simply use "at the same time".

What are some common synonyms for "unfortunately" in this context?

Synonyms for "unfortunately" in this context include "sadly", "regrettably", "unluckily", or "alas". The best choice depends on the specific tone you wish to convey.