At The Meantime | Clear Grammar Fixes Today

You’ll see at the meantime in emails, comments, and some academic writing, often from second-language writers. The trouble is simple: most readers don’t expect at with meantime. That tiny preposition can make a clean sentence feel off, even when the meaning is easy to guess.

This page gives you a straight fix. You’ll learn what people try to say with that wording, why it can sound awkward, and what to write instead. You’ll leave with patterns you can copy into your own sentences, plus quick checks that keep your tone natural.

What “Meantime” Means In Plain English

Meantime points to a stretch of time between two points: now and a later moment, or one event and the next. It answers “What happens while we wait?” or “What happens while the other thing is going on?”

Most of the time, English wraps that idea in a set phrase: Cambridge Dictionary’s entry for “meantime” shows the familiar pattern with “in the meantime.” Another clear reference is Merriam-Webster’s definition of “in the meantime”, which treats it as an idiom.

So the core meaning is not tricky. The tricky part is choosing the phrasing that readers expect in day-to-day English.

Where You Might See The Phrase

You may run into the wording in a few places: quick forum posts, chat messages, and drafts written under time pressure. You may even spot it in journals or reports, since some writers carry the pattern into English from other languages. That doesn’t mean it’s the preferred form. It just means the reader can still guess the timing.

If your goal is to sound natural to a wide audience, treat it like a rough draft mark. Swap it out during editing, the same way you’d fix a tense slip or a missing article. One clean change can lift the whole paragraph.

When A Teacher Or Editor May Flag It

In school writing, markers often score clarity and idiomatic phrasing. If they see at the meantime, they may label it as a collocation issue: words that don’t pair the way native readers expect. In workplace writing, an editor may change it for consistency, since style guides tend to favor standard set phrases.

If you’re writing for an audience that includes learners, plain wording can help. “During that time” is direct and easy to parse. When the audience is general, “in the meantime” is the everyday choice.

Phrase	When It Fits	Short Example
in the meantime	General “while we wait” timing; works in speech and writing	The parts arrive Friday; in the meantime, we’ll prep the tools.
meanwhile	Two actions at once; good for stories and news style	She called the client. Meanwhile, I drafted the quote.
in the interim	More formal tone; often for a named period or plan	The new manager starts in June; in the interim, Kim will lead.
for now	Temporary plan with an open end	For now, save the file on a USB drive.
for the time being	Temporary state that may change soon	The café is closed for the time being.
until then	Points to a later moment you already named	The exam is Monday. Until then, do two practice sets.
during that time	Clear, literal timing; good when you want zero idioms	The course runs eight weeks; during that time, post weekly notes.
at the same time	True simultaneity, not “waiting”	I can grade papers and at the same time answer messages.

At The Meantime In Writing And Why It Sounds Off

When someone writes that wording, they usually mean one of two things:

• Waiting time: “before the next thing happens.”
• Parallel time: “while the other thing is happening.”

English already has smooth choices for both ideas. “In the meantime” covers waiting time. “Meanwhile” covers parallel time. The version with at is rare in everyday use, so it can read like a direct translation from another language.

That matters even in casual writing. A reader might not stop to correct you, yet the sentence can lose rhythm. In a school setting, it can cost marks in writing tasks where natural phrasing is part of the grade. In a work email, it can make a simple update feel less polished.

Why “At” Feels Like The Wrong Preposition Here

English uses at for points, targets, and specific moments: at 5 p.m., at the door, at the start. Meantime is not a point. It’s a span. That’s why “in the meantime” feels right: in often signals being inside a period of time.

Writers can still use “meantime” as a noun or adverb, yet the set phrase “in the meantime” is the safe, widely understood option.

Fixing The Phrase In A Sentence With Better Flow

If your draft already has the phrase, you don’t need to rewrite the whole paragraph. You can swap one chunk and keep the rest.

Swap Pattern 1: Waiting For A Later Event

Draft: The printer will be repaired next week; that wording, we’ll print at the library.

Fix: The printer will be repaired next week; in the meantime, we’ll print at the library.

This fix keeps the same meaning and keeps the sentence smooth. It works in academic paragraphs, emails, and captions.

Swap Pattern 2: Two Things Happening Side By Side

Draft: The kids worked on their posters; that wording, I set up the projector.

Fix: The kids worked on their posters; meanwhile, I set up the projector.

Use this pattern when two actions overlap. “Meanwhile” often reads cleaner than repeating “in the meantime” in a list of actions.

Swap Pattern 3: A Temporary Plan With No Fixed End

Sometimes writers pick that wording when they want a temporary plan, not a waiting period. In that case, “for now” or “for the time being” may fit better.

Fix options: For now, we’ll meet on Zoom. / We’ll meet on Zoom for the time being.

Choosing The Right Option By Context

The best replacement depends on what your sentence is doing. Try this quick decision order:

1. Did you name a later time? Use “until then.”
2. Are you waiting for something? Use “in the meantime.”
3. Are two actions overlapping? Use “meanwhile.”
4. Is it a temporary plan with an open end? Use “for now” or “for the time being.”
5. Do you want a literal phrase? Use “during that time.”

This keeps your writing predictable in a good way. Readers spend their attention on your point, not on the phrasing.

Small Punctuation Choices That Change Tone

You’ll often see a comma after these time linkers. It helps when the phrase starts the sentence or breaks two independent clauses.

• Start of sentence: In the meantime, submit your draft.
• Mid-sentence break: The server is down; in the meantime, use the backup.

If the phrase is short and the sentence is short, you can drop the comma:

Short form: Meanwhile we can test the layout.

That style is common in headlines. In student writing, the comma version is usually safer.

Short Forms For Headings And Notes

If you’re writing a heading, a checklist line, or a slide, you can trim the phrase. “Meantime” alone can work as an adverb in some styles, yet it may sound dated to some readers. A safer short pick is “Meanwhile,” since it stands on its own. If you use “In the meantime” in a heading, keep it paired with the action that follows.

Common Mistakes And Clean Fixes

Most errors with these phrases fall into a few buckets. If you spot which bucket you’re in, the repair is quick.

Mixing Up “Meantime” And “Mean Time”

Meantime is about “the intervening time.” Mean time is a math or science phrase about averages (as in “mean time to failure”). If you mean waiting time, write one word: meantime.

Using “At The Same Time” When You Mean “While Waiting”

“At the same time” is about simultaneity. It can sound wrong if your sentence is about waiting for a delivery or a result. Use “in the meantime” for that.

Repeating The Phrase Too Often

In long explanations, writers can lean on “in the meantime” in every paragraph. Mix in “meanwhile,” “until then,” and “for now” when the meaning fits. Your writing will feel less mechanical.

Examples You Can Reuse In School And Work

Below are ready-to-paste models. Swap the nouns and verbs to match your topic.

Education And Study

• The lecturer will post the slides tomorrow; in the meantime, use your notes from class.
• The group meets on Thursday. Until then, finish your section of the outline.
• I’ll check the references. Meanwhile, you can format the headings.

Work Messages

• The client review is on Tuesday; in the meantime, please keep edits in one document.
• We’re waiting for approval. For now, let’s prep the draft reply.
• I’ll call IT. Meanwhile, try logging in from a browser.

Everyday Plans

• The bus comes at 6:10. In the meantime, I’ll grab a coffee.
• The oven heats up fast; meanwhile, chop the onions.
• The shop is closed for the time being, so we’ll order online.

Quick Self Check Before You Hit Send

Run these checks in under a minute:

• Meaning check: Are you waiting, or are you doing two things at once?
• Phrase check: Pick one: “in the meantime” for waiting, “meanwhile” for overlap.
• Time cue check: If you named a date or event, “until then” may read best.
• Tone check: “In the interim” can sound formal; use it when the rest of the paragraph matches.
• Repeat check: If the phrase appears twice in one paragraph, rewrite one instance.

If Your Draft Says	Ask Yourself	Try This Instead
that wording	Am I waiting for a later event?	in the meantime
that wording	Are two actions overlapping?	meanwhile
in the meantime	Did I already name the later time?	until then
in the interim	Is the tone too formal for this message?	for now
meanwhile	Is there a clear parallel action?	in the meantime
for now	Is there a fixed end point?	until then
during that time	Do I want a smoother, common phrase?	in the meantime
at the same time	Am I truly describing simultaneity?	meanwhile

One Clean Rewrite You Can Apply Anywhere

If you’re unsure, use this template and change the bracketed parts:

Template: [Later event] will happen [time]. In the meantime, [useful action now].

It’s plain, familiar, and hard to misread. If you want a second sentence, keep it direct:

Add-on: Until then, [small next step].

If you’re stuck, read the sentence aloud; the smoother option usually jumps out.

That’s the full fix. When your reader sees your timing phrases, they won’t pause. They’ll keep moving through your message, which is the whole point for readers.