when the message was sent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when the message was sent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a specific time or context in which a message was transmitted, often in discussions about communication or technology. Example: "The system logs indicate when the message was sent, allowing us to track the communication timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He was a research associate at Arecibo when the message was sent and subsequently served as director of the Arecibo Observatory for seven years.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It's not even clear [to an eavesdropper] when the message is sent," Roy says.

Science Magazine

E-mails also do not require the phone to be active when the message is sent, making clients less vulnerable to missed communications (Anhoj and Moldrup 2004).

Alcohol research : current reviews

"When politicians organize these events, the message is sent to the people that law and order means nothing," Jayasimha says.

The Washington Post

When the messages were sent out, they were successfully received.

The Guardian

In some of the court documents, the senders of the e-mail messages are identified only by the jobs they currently occupy and the rank they held when the messages were sent.

The New York Times

This leads to poor robustness when the messages are sent (or lost) asynchronously.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

When police investigated, he claimed the messages were sent by someone who hacked his computer and was attempting to frame him.

BBC

You can see when a message was sent by dragging the message screen to the left.

Forbes

The last contact was on Friday when a message was sent to one of Megan's friends, saying she was in France.

Independent

Never argue about exactly when a message was sent again!

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when the message was sent" to provide a clear temporal reference point in technical documentation or historical accounts. This ensures readers understand the specific timing you are referencing.

Common error

Avoid using active voice constructions that obscure the sender or context. The passive voice in "when the message was sent" keeps the focus on the message itself and the timing, rather than who sent it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when the message was sent" functions as an adverbial clause, modifying a verb in the main clause by specifying the time at which an action occurred. Ludwig confirms this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "when the message was sent" functions as an adverbial clause specifying the time of an action. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and versatile for various contexts. While less common, with a few examples, it’s most frequently found in news, scientific, and academic sources. For alternative phrasing, consider "at the time the message was dispatched" or "upon the message's transmission", depending on the desired level of formality. Understanding the nuances of passive voice helps in preventing common errors and ensuring clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the time the message was dispatched

Replaces "sent" with "dispatched" and uses "at the time" instead of "when".

upon the message's transmission

Uses a more formal tone with "transmission" and "upon".

the moment the message was transmitted

Substitutes "when" with "the moment" and "sent" with "transmitted".

the point in time the message was sent

Emphasizes the specific time using a more descriptive phrase.

after the message had been sent

Shifts the focus to the state after the message's completion.

following the dispatch of the message

Uses formal language, replacing "sent" with "dispatch" and structuring the sentence differently.

once the message was transmitted

Replaces "when" with "once", focusing on the completion of the sending action.

when the communication was sent

Substitutes "message" with the broader term "communication".

at the instant the message was sent

Highlights the immediacy of the action using "at the instant".

the time of the message's sending

Simplifies to focus on the event of sending itself.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "when the message was sent" for variety?

You can use alternatives like "at the time the message was dispatched", "upon the message's transmission", or "the moment the message was transmitted" to add nuance or formality to your writing.

Is it better to say "when the message was sent" or "when the message was transmitted"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct. "Sent" is more common and informal, while "transmitted" is more formal and often used in technical contexts. Choose the one that best fits the tone and audience of your writing.

What is the difference between "when the message was sent" and "after the message was sent"?

"When the message was sent" refers to the specific point in time of transmission. "After the message was sent" indicates a period following that transmission. The choice depends on whether you're focusing on a moment or a subsequent period.

Can "when the message was sent" be used in both formal and informal writing?

Yes, "when the message was sent" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. However, in very formal contexts, you might consider alternatives like "upon the message's transmission" for a more elevated tone.