what month

USAGE SUMMARY

"what month" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is typically used to ask for information about a specific month. Example: "What month is your wedding?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

He also had a terrible August, going 1-2 with an 11.91 E.R.A. Since joining the Yankees in 2009, his record in August is 1-10 with an 8.10 E.R.A. "It doesn't matter what month it is," Burnett said.

The New York Times - Sports

What month is it?

The New York Times

"What month is it?" "February".

The New York Times

"Surfers forget what month it is," he said.

The New York Times

In what month is the May Day demonstration?

The Guardian - Travel

"She loses track of what month it is, let alone the date".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

The world moves on, to South Africa this month, and then who knows what December will bring.

The New York Times - Sports

"This is what March is all about.

The New York Times - Sports

Well, this is what January in Great Britain feels like.

Independent

What February has in store no one can say.

The New York Times

"Removing this reveals what Jan himself intended".

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking for a specific month, ensure the context is clear. For instance, specify the year if needed: "What month in 2024 did the event occur?"

Common error

Don't use "what month" in contexts where the year is unclear. Always specify the year to avoid confusion. Instead of "What month did you graduate?", use "What month and year did you graduate?".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what month" functions primarily as an interrogative phrase, used to inquire about or identify a specific month. As Ludwig AI shows, it commonly appears in questions seeking to determine a particular month within a year or context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

16%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what month" serves as a straightforward and commonly used interrogative, primarily aimed at identifying a particular month. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and sees frequent usage across diverse contexts, including news and media, science and general knowledge inquiries. The phrase's register is generally neutral, making it suitable for both formal and informal conversations. To enhance clarity, especially in professional settings, specify the year or event related to the month being questioned. While generally correct, it is worth nothing that this is a general inquiry, you may want to use ""which month"" when implying a selection from a limited set of known months or options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which month

Replaces "what" with "which" to specify a choice from a limited set of months.

in which month

Uses a more formal structure, adding the preposition "in" before "which".

during what month

Specifies an action occurring within the timeframe of a particular month.

what is the month

Alters the sentence structure to clarify the inquiry about identifying the month.

month in question

Focuses on the month currently under discussion or consideration.

the specific month

Highlights the need to identify a particular month without directly asking the question.

month are we in

Informal way of asking about the current month.

month of the year

Emphasizes identifying a month within the annual calendar.

exact month

Stresses the need for precision in identifying the month.

particular month

Highlights the need to focus on one specific month.

FAQs

How do I properly use "what month" in a sentence?

Use "what month" to ask about a particular month in relation to an event or date. For example, "What month is your birthday?". Ensure the context is clear and include additional information like the year if necessary.

Are there formal alternatives to using "what month"?

Yes, you can use more formal alternatives such as "In "which month"" or "During "what month" did the event occur?" for a more formal tone.

Is it ever incorrect to use "what month"?

It's generally correct, but can be ambiguous without context. Provide clarifying details like the year or specific event to ensure clarity. Avoid using it in contexts where the month is already implied.

What’s the difference between "what month" and ""which month""?

"What month" is a general inquiry, while ""which month"" implies a selection from a limited set of known months or options. For example, "What month is it?" vs. "Which month are we focusing on for the project?"