Those Days vs. These Days – Which is Correct?
Both “those days” and “these days” are correct, but they point to different times. “These days” means nowadays or the present period. “Those days” usually refers to a past period, often remembered or contrasted with now. Choose “these” for current life and “those” for earlier times in modern English usage.
Those Days or These Days – Which is Correct?
“Those days” and “these days” are both correct phrases. The difference is distance in time or context. “These days” normally means “nowadays” or “at the present time.” “Those days” commonly refers to a particular period in the past, especially one being remembered or contrasted with the present.
For example, “People communicate mostly by text these days” describes modern life. However, “Those days were the happiest of my childhood” points to an earlier period. “Those days” can also refer to days already mentioned or viewed as separate from the speaker’s current situation.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the distance test: these points to something close, while those points to something farther away. Therefore, use these days for life close to the present moment, meaning “nowadays.” Use those days for days that feel distant in time, meaning “back then” or “that period.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| these days | Fixed adverbial phrase | Nowadays; during the present period | These days, many people work remotely. |
| those days | Demonstrative phrase | A particular earlier period or days viewed as distant | Those days seem very different now. |
How to Use Those Days
“Those days” generally refers to days in the past. It often appears in nostalgic comments, historical descriptions, personal memories, and comparisons between an earlier period and the present. The phrase can sound reflective or sentimental, but it may also be neutral when identifying a specific time.
It can refer to an entire period rather than only two or three literal days. For instance, “Those days were difficult” may describe a challenging year, a stage of life, or a historical era.
Example 1: Those days, families did not have instant access to the internet.
Example 2: I often think about those days when my grandparents were still alive.
Example 3: Those days were stressful, but they taught me valuable lessons.
Etymology of the Phrase Those Days
“Those” comes from the Old English demonstrative form þā, which developed into the modern plural demonstrative pronoun and determiner. “Day” comes from the Old English dæg. Together, “those days” developed as a phrase for days that are conceptually distant, usually in the past or in a previously identified period.
How to Use These Days
“These days” is a common fixed phrase meaning “nowadays,” “at present,” or “in the current period.” It is especially common in conversational and general nonfiction writing. It may introduce a broad observation about modern habits, technology, society, work, health, or daily life.
Although “these days” refers to the present, it does not necessarily mean today alone. It can describe a period lasting weeks, months, years, or the general era in which the speaker lives.
Example 1: These days, students can access thousands of books online.
Example 2: I am trying to spend less time on social media these days.
Example 3: These days, customers expect faster delivery.
Etymology of the Phrase These Days
“These” developed from Old English demonstrative forms related to the idea of things nearby or presently relevant. “Day” comes from Old English dæg. The phrase “these days” uses the demonstrative sense of nearness metaphorically: the days are close to the speaker’s current time, so the expression came to mean “nowadays.”
Related Concepts
Understanding demonstratives and time expressions makes the distinction between “those days” and “these days” easier to remember.
- Demonstratives: Words such as “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” identify people, objects, or ideas according to distance in space, time, or conversation. “These” suggests closeness, while “those” suggests distance.
- Time expressions: Phrases such as “nowadays,” “at present,” “back then,” and “in the past” specify when something happens. “These days” is similar to “nowadays,” while “those days” often resembles “back then.”
- Deictic language: Deictic words depend on the speaker’s context. The meaning of “these” or “those” can change according to the time, place, or period being discussed.
Examples from Media and Literature
Writers and speakers use both phrases to create a clear contrast between the present and an earlier time:
- In memoirs and autobiographies, authors often use “those days” when recalling childhood, family life, or an important stage of their careers.
- Historical novels commonly use “those days” to place characters within a society that is distant from the reader’s present.
- Newspaper and magazine articles frequently use “these days” when discussing current technology, changing habits, or modern social trends.
- Films set in the present may use “these days” in dialogue to comment on contemporary life.
- In nostalgic songs and stories, “those days” often signals a remembered period and creates a reflective or sentimental mood.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- These / Those days, most people carry a powerful computer in their pocket.
- I remember when we used to play outside until dinner in these / those days.
- People are more aware of online privacy these / those days.
- These / Those days of travel were among the most exciting of my life.
- Many workplaces allow flexible schedules these / those days.
Answer Key
- These — The sentence describes the present.
- those — The sentence refers to a remembered time in the past.
- these — The sentence discusses a current trend.
- Those — The sentence refers to a specific earlier period.
- these — The sentence describes modern workplace practices.
Those Days Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| back then | At that earlier time; usually conversational |
| at that time | During the particular period previously mentioned |
| in those days | During a specified or remembered past period |
| in the past | At an earlier point or period in history |
| then | At the time being discussed |
These Days Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| nowadays | At the present time or in the modern era |
| currently | At the present moment or during the present period |
| at present | At the current time; somewhat more formal |
| today | In the current age or period, not only on the current calendar day |
| in modern times | During the contemporary era |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “these days” grammatically correct?
Yes. “These days” is a standard English phrase meaning “nowadays” or “at present.” It is commonly used in both speech and writing.
Question 2: Is “those days” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Those days” is also correct. It usually refers to a past period, a previously mentioned set of days, or a time that feels distant from the speaker.
Question 3: Can “those days” refer to the future?
Yes, in a suitable context. For example, “When those days arrive, we will be ready” uses “those days” to refer to future days that have already been identified or imagined. However, the phrase most often refers to the past.
Question 4: What is the difference between “in those days” and “these days”?
“In those days” means “during that earlier period,” whereas “these days” means “during the present period.” For example, “In those days, phones were less common” contrasts with “These days, nearly everyone has one.”
Question 5: Is “those days” the same as “back in the day”?
They can have a similar meaning when referring to the past. “Back in the day” is more informal and nostalgic, while “those days” can be neutral, formal, or sentimental depending on the context.
Conclusion
“Those days” and “these days” are both correct, but they do not mean the same thing. Use “these days” for the present or modern life, and use “those days” for an earlier, distant, or previously identified period. Pro tip: Choosing the precise time expression improves clarity and helps protect your professional reputation in emails, reports, and formal writing.
