Is “At The Time Of Writing” Correct? (Meaning & Alternatives)

We will often see the phrase “at the time of writing” used in emails, formal writings, letters, etc. However, there is a lot of confusion around the true meaning of this phrase, its appropriate uses, and more. Therefore, this article will be highlighting all of the necessary answers and information.

Is “At The Time Of Writing” Correct?

“At the time of writing” is both correct and should be easily understood by any audience member. This is clearly not something we would choose to say in person or a verbal conversation of any sort, however, it is very adequate for the written word.

What Does “At The Time Of Writing” Mean?

We will use the phrase “at the time of writing” to convey our present emotions, issues, circumstances, opinions, etc. This is a very versatile statement or phrase, which can allow us the necessary opening in our writing to then explain how we feel, view things, etc.

We can consider this phrase a very current way of keeping the recipients up to date on whatever the subject matter of the email is, as well as our opinions, concerns, etc., on it.

What Is The Abbreviation For “At The Time Of Writing”?

Most phrases that are used in conversational or informal emails generally come with or have a made-up abbreviation, that allows users to shorten the phrase for convenience or a smaller piece of writing. In terms of “at the time of writing”, the known and commonly accepted abbreviation is “ATTOW”.

Examples Of How To Use “At The Time Of Writing” In A Sentence

We will now go over the following examples that highlight the use of this particular phrase:

• At the time of writing this email, I have now attempted to log into my account more than a dozen times – to absolutely no avail.
• At the time of writing this email, the company is currently facing the devastating effects of the stock market crash, which will take a toll on the work ethic of employees and personnel.
• At the time of writing this email, I have now had to reprimand two separate employees for their complete lack of care in following the uniform policy.
• At the time of writing this letter, our country has now declared war on Germany and has joined the Allied Forces.
• At the time of writing this letter, I am presently hidden away from the rebel forces that have taken over our town.
• At the time of writing this letter, our nation’s security is presently under great scrutiny.
• At the time of writing this report, it is abundantly clear that the company will lose more money before the day’s end.
• At the time of writing this report, the last three should have been submitted, which they have not.
• At the time of writing this report, I am considering the possibility of moving on to another source of employment.
• At the time of writing this document, the school board may have already expelled the student.
• At the time of writing this document, it’s clear that my brother will not be granted bail by the judge.
• At the time of writing this document, it’s clear that the business is on the brink of bankruptcy.

Is It “As Of The Time Of Writing” Or “At The Time Of Writing”?

Both “as of the time of writing” and “at the time of writing” can be considered as correct and usable phrases. Generally, when “as of” is used, it’s denoting “so far” or “at such-and-such a time”. It also often gives a status that is subject to change in the future.

For example, we could say “as of the time of writing, there have been forty new cases of Omicron discovered”. This implies that the number is temporary, as more cases could be found out or people could recover.

On the other hand, we can consider “at the time of writing” to be more generic and simply refer to a point in time.

You may also like: Is “As of This Writing” Correct? (What to Say Instead)

Alternatives To “At The Time Of Writing”

We will now go over some appropriate alternative phrases to writing “at the time of writing”:

• Currently, as I am writing this to you…
• Amid writing this…
• For the time being, while I write this…
• In the course of writing this…
• In the midst of writing this…
• Throughout the process of writing this…
• While I have been writing this…
• Presently, as I am writing this…
• At the present time, whilst this is being written…
• Concurrently, while I am in the process of writing this…