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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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we arrived that

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we arrived that" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete thought and lacks clarity, making it difficult to determine its intended meaning. Example: "We arrived that day to find everything had changed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

When we arrived that evening, the city was in the midst of a dengue-fever epidemic, and many of the phone lines were down.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Ash had already hooked things up with the mayor (and, to some extent, with the Filipino Navy) before we arrived; that was the easier part.

News & Media

The New York Times

We arrived that morning on a flight from the Indonesian capital, landing at the nearby town of Sidorarjo where a company owned by the country's whale-jawed tycoon Aburizal Bakrie punched a hole through the earth's crust and inundated a town in volcanic mud.

News & Media

Vice

In fact, we were not sure until we arrived that Lerici was the place.

I didn't realize until we arrived that I was too late.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"I wasn't convinced when we arrived that Kenny should be back managing," Henry reflected.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

These were the only buildings we had seen since we'd arrived that morning.

But before we return to considering who might be in the frame, let's take a moment to consider how we arrived at that point.

"I was somewhat surprised when we arrived at that 47%," he tells the BBC.

News & Media

BBC

The value we used in the simulations, unless mentioned otherwise, was 5 ms. See Section 4.1 for more details on how we arrived at that value.

We arrived at that first Test against South Africa thinking we were in pretty good nick and there was a big step up.

News & Media

BBC
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "we arrived that" as it's grammatically awkward. Instead, use more precise prepositions like "on", "in", or adverbs like "there" for clearer meaning.

Common error

Don't directly follow "arrived" with "that" without a clarifying preposition or adverb. "That" often needs a connector to properly link the arrival to a specific time, place, or circumstance.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we arrived that" functions as an incomplete clause, often intended to introduce a subsequent detail about the arrival. Ludwig AI indicates it is not correct and lacks clarity. Examples show it often precedes a time or circumstance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we arrived that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to its awkward structure. As Ludwig AI highlights, it often needs a preposition or adverb for clarity. While examples exist, suggesting some usage, they often indicate missing words or incomplete thoughts. For clearer communication, it's best to use alternatives like "we arrived on that day" or "we arrived there that day". Ludwig's analysis points to a neutral register, but the grammatical issue affects its acceptability in formal contexts. By avoiding this phrase and opting for more precise constructions, you can ensure your writing is both grammatically sound and easily understood.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "we arrived" in a sentence?

To use "we arrived" correctly, add a preposition like "on" or "in" (e.g., "we arrived on Monday" or "we arrived in London"). Alternatively, use an adverb like "there" (e.g., "we arrived there late").

What are some alternatives to "we arrived that day"?

Instead of "we arrived that day", try "we arrived on that day", "we arrived there that day", or "we got there that day" for clearer communication.

Why is "we arrived that" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "we arrived that" is incorrect because it lacks a necessary preposition or adverb to link "arrived" to a specific time or place. A direct connection is needed for grammatical correctness.

Is there a difference between "we arrived on that day" and "we arrived that day"?

Yes, "we arrived on that day" is grammatically correct and specifies the day of arrival. "We arrived that day" is grammatically incorrect without the preposition "on".

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: