In Daytime vs. In the Daytime

Introduction

The phrases in daytime and in the daytime both refer to the period of daylight, but they differ slightly in usage, frequency, and naturalness in modern English.

"In the daytime"

This is the more common and idiomatic expression in contemporary English. It typically appears in both spoken and written contexts.

Examples:

• I prefer to walk my dog in the daytime.
• Owls sleep in the daytime and hunt at night.

"In daytime"

While grammatically acceptable, in daytime is less common and may sound slightly formal or literary. It's occasionally used in technical, poetic, or descriptive writing.

Examples:

• The satellite captures images in daytime only.
• Colors appear more vivid in daytime.

Which Should You Use?

For most everyday situations, especially in conversational English, use in the daytime. Reserve in daytime for specialized contexts where brevity or stylistic tone is preferred.