a decade already

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a decade already" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express surprise or realization that ten years have passed since a particular event or situation. Example: "It feels like just yesterday we graduated, but it's been a decade already since that day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

We've been in Afghanistan for nearly a decade already.

The New York Times

The Shirley case has been going on for more than a decade already.

The New York Times

DeVilla also wrote: Aaron was a mere 26 years old, and he'd been doing all sorts of things on the Internet for at least a decade already.

The Guardian - Tech

Then, he would probably have been married for a decade already, with children at school; his many suited years of service at the firm would have placed him mid-way up the corporate ladder.

The Economist

The park is not due to open until 2009 at Universal Studio's amusement park in Orlando, Florida, but what are a few more years when you've waited a decade already?

The Guardian - Travel

The decision came as something of a surprise, since Harvard has for a decade already held patents on the oncomouse in the United States, Japan and many European countries.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The following advice is aimed at adults who have been dating for a good decade already.

Huffington Post

Whilever I feel like spring should be around and whenever something great is about to happen in myouife, the nospendia, the happiness and the purityear Chutes Too Nafter become just the perfect mix of sensations that shake me inside.

Huffington Post

"There's more dictatorship than democracy, and we're a decade in already".

The New York Times

In America, Edison, the market leader, has not made a profit in a decade, despite already running 79 schools.

The Economist

Sukhoi had hoped to sell about 1,000 Superjets over a decade, and already had 170 orders on the books.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a decade already" to express a sense of surprise or realization that a significant amount of time has passed. For example, use it when reflecting on how quickly time has gone by since an event.

Common error

Avoid using "a decade already" when referring to a period slightly shorter or longer than ten years. The phrase implies a specific duration of ten years, so approximate durations should be phrased differently.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decade already" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the completion of a ten-year period and often expressing surprise or emphasis. Ludwig provides examples illustrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a decade already" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier to express that ten years have passed. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it's commonly used in news, and media, but also in science. While the phrase is deemed correct by Ludwig, it is not very common. Related phrases include "ten years have passed" and "it's been ten years". A best practice is to employ this phrase when aiming to convey surprise or emphasize the duration, while a common error is using it loosely for periods that aren't precisely a decade.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ten years already

Removes the article "a" for a slightly different emphasis.

ten years have passed

Replaces the phrase with a more literal description of the time elapsed.

a decade has gone by

Uses a different verb to convey the passage of time.

it's been ten years

A more direct and conversational way of stating the duration.

a decade has elapsed

Employs a more formal verb for the passage of time.

a decade now

Uses 'now' to emphasize the current state after a decade.

we're a decade in

Focuses on the current point within a ten-year period, particularly applicable to projects or commitments.

ten years and counting

Suggests that the time period is ongoing.

it is a decade later

Highlights the contrast between a past event and the present after a decade.

ten years hence

More formal and literary way to express a decade in the future. Note that it is more future-oriented than the QUERY

FAQs

How can I use "a decade already" in a sentence?

You can use "a decade already" to express surprise or realization about the passage of time. For example: "It's been "a decade already" since we graduated!"

What's a more formal alternative to "a decade already"?

A more formal alternative is "ten years have elapsed". This phrasing is suitable for academic or professional contexts.

Is it correct to say "already a decade" instead of "a decade already"?

While "already a decade" isn't ungrammatical, ""a decade already"" is the more common and natural-sounding phrase. The word order in the alternative phrasing is not idiomatic.

Can "a decade already" refer to something that will happen in the future?

No, ""a decade already"" refers to a period of time that has passed. To refer to a future decade, you would use phrases like "in a decade" or "a decade from now".