Moments Like This vs. Moments Like These – Which is Correct?
Use “moments like these” when referring to multiple moments, because the plural noun “moments” normally takes the plural demonstrative “these.” Use “a moment like this” for one moment. “Moments like this” can be correct when “this” points to one situation or experience type, but it is less common and context-dependent.
Table of Contents
Moments Like This or Moments Like These – Which is Correct?
Both “moments like this” and “moments like these” are valid English phrases, but they communicate slightly different meanings. The standard choice for referring to several specific moments is “moments like these.”
Because the phrase depends on the noun moment, also verify its spelling in Moment vs. Momment before publishing.
In this phrase, moments is plural. The demonstrative pronoun or determiner should usually agree with it: this is singular, while these is plural. Therefore, “moments like these” usually means “moments similar to these several moments.”
“Moments like this” is also grammatical when this refers to one present situation, event, feeling, or type of experience. For example, someone watching a championship victory might say, “We dream of moments like this.” Here, this points to the single victory happening now rather than to several individual moments.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the number-and-pointing test. If you are pointing to one event or experience, choose this: “a moment like this.” If you are pointing to two or more specific events, choose these: “moments like these.” Also remember the basic pair: this moment, but these moments.
| Word or Phrase | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| moments like this | Noun phrase | Moments similar to one present situation or experience | We work hard for moments like this. |
| moments like these | Noun phrase | Moments similar to several identified moments | I will always remember moments like these. |
How to Use “Moments Like This”
“Moments like this” is used when this identifies one current or previously mentioned situation, event, achievement, or emotional experience. Although moments is plural, the phrase can remain grammatical because the word this does not always modify the noun moments directly. Instead, it can point to one larger circumstance represented by the entire phrase.
This expression is common in speeches, interviews, sports commentary, personal writing, and emotional conversations. It often has a reflective, grateful, dramatic, or celebratory tone. In formal writing, it is acceptable when the intended reference is clear, but “moments like these” may be better when discussing several concrete examples.
Example 1: Winning the award was a reminder that years of effort can lead to moments like this.
Example 2: We never expected to stand on this stage and experience moments like this.
Example 3: Moments like this make all the difficult decisions worthwhile.
Etymology of the Phrase “Moments Like This”
The phrase combines the noun moment, the preposition like, and the demonstrative this. Moment entered English through Old French from Latin momentum, meaning “movement,” “motion,” or a brief period of time. This comes from Old English and has long been used to identify something near the speaker in time, place, or attention.
How to Use “Moments Like These”
“Moments like these” is the clearest and most conventional expression when referring to multiple special, memorable, difficult, or similar moments. The plural demonstrative these agrees naturally with the plural noun moments.
Use this phrase when several moments are visible, already mentioned, or understood from context. It is especially common in thank-you speeches, photo captions, social media posts, memoirs, news reports, and discussions about recurring experiences. The tone may be sentimental, celebratory, inspirational, or nostalgic.
Example 1: Moments like these remind us how important friendship can be.
Example 2: The family treasures moments like these from every holiday gathering.
Example 3: Photographs help us preserve moments like these for future generations.
What Are the Different Forms of “Moments Like These”?
The phrase changes according to the number of the noun and the demonstrative being used. For one event, use “a moment like this” or “moments like this” when this refers to one broader situation. For several specifically identified events, use “moments like these.” For events that are farther away in time, place, or discussion, use “moments like that” or “moments like those.”
| Reference | Recommended Form |
|---|---|
| One specific event | a moment like this |
| Several nearby or current events | moments like these |
| One distant or previously mentioned event | a moment like that |
| Several distant or previously mentioned events | moments like those |
Etymology of the Phrase “Moments Like These”
These is the plural form of this and comes from the Old English demonstrative system. It identifies multiple things that are close to the speaker in time, place, or thought. Combined with moments and like, the phrase literally refers to several points in time that resemble one another.
Related Concepts
Understanding demonstratives and noun-number agreement makes it easier to choose between “moments like this” and “moments like these.”
- Demonstrative determiners: Words such as this, that, these, and those point to people, objects, events, or ideas. This and these generally indicate something closer, while that and those indicate something more distant.
- Singular and plural agreement: Singular nouns generally pair with this or that, while plural nouns generally pair with these or those. Context can sometimes allow a demonstrative to point to a larger situation rather than directly modify the noun.
- Deictic language: Deictic words derive their meaning from context. The meaning of this depends on what the speaker considers close in time, space, attention, or emotional experience.
- Noun phrases: A noun phrase contains a noun and words that describe or determine it. “Moments like these” functions as a noun phrase and can serve as a sentence’s subject or object.
Examples from Media and Literature
Both expressions appear naturally across spoken and written English, but “moments like these” is especially common when a speaker reflects on several memorable experiences.
- Sports coverage: A commentator may say, “Teams prepare for moments like this” while describing one decisive final play. After showing several victories, the commentator may say, “Moments like these define a season.”
- Award speeches: A winner might say, “I am grateful for moments like this,” referring to the single ceremony taking place. When thanking people for several milestones, the speaker may use “moments like these.”
- Family memoirs: A writer describing one reunion may write, “We had waited years for a moment like this.” When reflecting on multiple reunions, “moments like these” is the more precise choice.
- Film dialogue: A character facing one major turning point might say, “Everything has led to a moment like this.” The line focuses on the single situation immediately before the character.
- News and documentary writing: A report about repeated community efforts may state, “Moments like these show the strength of local cooperation,” using the plural form for several observed examples.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence: moments like this or moments like these.
- We train every day for ______.
- The museum’s collection preserves ______ from different periods of history.
- Standing beside my family on graduation day, I knew I would always remember ______.
- Photographs help us revisit ______ long after they have passed.
- The team’s final victory created one of those ______ that fans never forget.
Answer Key
- moments like this
- moments like these
- moments like this
- moments like these
- moments like this
“Moments Like This” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| a moment such as this | One moment resembling the present situation |
| an occasion like this | A single event of a similar kind |
| a time like this | A comparable point in time or circumstance |
| an experience like this | One comparable personal or emotional experience |
“Moments Like These” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| times like these | Several comparable periods or situations |
| occasions such as these | Several events resembling the ones being discussed |
| experiences like these | Several similar personal or emotional experiences |
| instances like these | Several examples of the same general type |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “moments like this” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Moments like this” is correct when this refers to one present situation, event, or experience. For example, “We have worked for moments like this” refers to the one current occasion.
Question 2: Should I say “moments like this” or “moments like these”?
Use “moments like these” when you mean several specific moments. Use “moments like this” when you mean moments similar to one single situation or event. In many general statements, “moments like these” is the safer choice because it agrees directly with the plural noun.
Question 3: Is “a moment like these” correct?
No. The singular noun moment must pair with the singular demonstrative this or that. Say “a moment like this” or “a moment like that.” Use “moments like these” when both the noun and demonstrative are plural.
Conclusion
“Moments like these” is generally the best choice when referring to multiple moments, while “moments like this” is correct when this points to one current situation or experience. The simplest rule is to match this with one and these with several. Pro Tip: In professional writing, choose the form that makes the intended reference unmistakable.
