at THE time

[codenamecharlie]

hi, actually this is a sentence a teacher here typed when he answered my
previous question:

"When I was a youngster, there was some actor who often appeared in the
teen magazines I bought at the time whose first name was 'Sean'. "

My question: is "at THE time" a correct expression? In my head, it should
be "at THAT time" ?

thanks!

[costagleysson]

If I'm not mistaken, he could have used both expressions. AT THE TIME (he was a youngster, in general) AT THAT TIME (the specific time he bought the magazines)

[David L.]

The difference between the use of the two phrases is that "at that time" = 'at that particular, specific time' - it emphasizes that the time period itself is significant. Look at these sentences:
"I was a teenager during the 60's. At that time, society was in great change and upheaval, and..."
"When I was 18, I decided I wanted to be a rock star rather than go to uni. It seemed like a good idea at the time."

Can others think of other examples and post them?

[spenser]

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
At the time: at the particular point when something was thought of or done: "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

"English Prepositional Idiom" by Frederick T.Wood
At the time: at the time in question: "Jackson called at the office this afternoon, but I could not see him, as I was engaged at the time."