How to use "as the day progresses"

What Does "as the day progresses" Mean?

• What it expresses: time, degree, extent, and approximation of change.
• What part of the sentence it typically modifies: the entire clause.
• Register: neutral

How to Use It

• Typical sentence positions: initial or final, with initial being slightly more common. While grammatically correct, using it in the mid-position can sound awkward.
• What it modifies and how it changes the meaning of a sentence: It modifies the entire clause, indicating a gradual change or development of the situation described in the clause throughout the course of the day. It adds a temporal dimension to the event.
• Grammatical flexibility: It can be fronted, but it's not typically used with negation or in questions directly. Negation would usually apply to the main clause, not the adverbial phrase itself.
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Placing it in the middle of a clause, separating the subject and verb, can sound awkward. For example, "The weather, as the day progresses, will become warmer" sounds less natural than "As the day progresses, the weather will become warmer" or "The weather will become warmer as the day progresses."

Real-World Examples

"We'll have more as the day progresses." — The Washington Post

"As the day progresses, though, rock acts become more of a focal point." — The Guardian - Music

"Tomorrow (Sunday): Increasing clouds as the day progresses, eventually becoming mostly cloudy by the afternoon." — The Washington Post

"As the day progresses, businessmen and farm laborers alike stop to sip terere, a cool version of yerba mate." — The New York Times

"The restaurant seems to lose culinary steam as the day progresses." — The New York Times - Food

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/as+the+day+progresses

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
as the day goes on	More informal; suitable for spoken language.
later in the day	More specific; focuses on a later time period within the same day.
over the course of the day	Slightly more formal; emphasizes the duration of the day.
with the passage of time	More general; can apply to periods longer than a day.
as time passes	Similar to 'with the passage of time' but slightly less formal.
during the day	More general; doesn't necessarily imply a gradual change.
by day's end	Focuses on the final outcome or state at the end of the day.

Common Mistakes

• Placing the phrase awkwardly within the main clause, disrupting the flow of the sentence. For example, avoid sentences like: "The stock market, as the day progresses, will likely fluctuate."
• Overusing the phrase, especially in close proximity to other temporal adverbs, leading to redundancy.
• Learners might confuse this with a temporal clause requiring a different tense in the main clause (e.g., using future tense incorrectly). The correct usage is: "As the day progresses, the temperature will rise," not "As the day progresses, the temperature rises".

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
as the day progresses	Indicates a gradual change over time	Neutral	Initial or Final

FAQs

Where is the best place to put "as the day progresses" in a sentence?

"As the day progresses" works best at the beginning or end of a sentence. While grammatically correct in the middle, it can sound awkward. It's generally better to place it before or after the main clause for clarity.

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How is "as the day progresses" different from "later in the day"?

"As the day progresses" implies a gradual change or continuous development throughout the day. "Later in the day" simply refers to a point in time that is further along than the current moment, without necessarily indicating a gradual process.

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What's the common mistake learners make with the expression "as the day progresses"?

Learners sometimes incorrectly use present tense in the main clause when using "as the day progresses," thinking it's a simple temporal clause. It expresses something that will happen over time, so future tense is often needed. For example, you should say, "As the day progresses, the weather will become warmer," not "As the day progresses, the weather becomes warmer."