Question In those days VS at that time

[hirashin]

Hello, native English speakers,
Would (a) and (b) have a different meaning?

(a) In those days, I used this guitar.
(b) At that time, I used this guitar.

Hirashin

 

[mdchachi]

It could mean the same but in general (a) refers to a time period and (b) could refer to a (short) time period or a point in time.

 

[hirashin]

Thanks for the help, mdchachi.

 

[Buntaro]

(a) In those days, I used this guitar.
(b) At that time, I used this guitar.

Hirashin,

It may help to use direct translations:

(a) In those days… = その日…
(b) At that time… = その時…

Both (a) and (b) can be translated as その時代…, but I think その時代… is better used as a translation for "in those days…".

The example (b) can also be used for a very short period of time. For example, "at that time…" can be used for "on that morning..." or "on the way to school that day..." or "during class on Thursday..."

 

[hirashin]

Thanks, Buntaro. The point I wanted to ask about is whether you can use "at that time" for a longer time period, not a point in time.

 

[Buntaro]

Yes, you can. Would you like some examples?

 

[mdchachi]

Here's a very long time period example.

Dinosaurs ruled the Earth during the Cretaceous Period. At that time, flying reptiles called pterosaurs were prevalent.

 

[hirashin]

Thanks for the good example, mdchachi. Are you familiar with dinosaurs?

 

[mdchachi]

Thanks for the good example, mdchachi. Are you familiar with dinosaurs?

No. But I used Google to learn the above-mentioned fact about pterosaurs. ;-)