a decade has passed

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "a decade has passed" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe how much time has elapsed since a certain event or milestone. For example, "It's been ten years since we graduated high school; a decade has passed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A decade has passed since Liberia began moving towards peace.

The Guardian

And yet more than a decade has passed and they are still keeping us waiting.

The Economist

More than a decade has passed, and Suzuki has not returned to the postseason.

The New York Times - Sports

A decade has passed since the bellringing community last enjoyed a real boost to its numbers.

Independent

Over a decade has passed since the last riots in black areas of Britain.

The Economist

A decade has passed since Tom Frank wrote "What's The Matter With Kansas?

The New Yorker

More than a decade has passed since those moments of realization.

The New York Times

Nearly a decade has passed, and now it time for Clarence to repay his political godfather.

The New York Times

More than a decade has passed since my last skin-related humiliation on the beach.

The New York Times

Over a decade has passed since the first gasps of online feminist porn.

The Guardian - Opinion

A decade has passed since four men travelled to London and blew themselves up killing 52 people.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a decade has passed", ensure the context clearly indicates the starting point of the decade being referenced. This avoids ambiguity and provides clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "a decade has passed". For example, instead of saying "a decade has passing", use the correct past participle "passed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decade has passed" functions as an idiomatic expression used to indicate the completion of a ten-year period. It often serves as a temporal marker, setting the stage for subsequent events or reflections, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a decade has passed" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that ten years have elapsed. As highlighted by Ludwig, it functions primarily as a temporal marker, setting the stage for subsequent events or reflections. It is most frequently found in news and media, as well as in scientific contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for various audiences. While alternatives such as "ten years have elapsed" offer similar meanings, "a decade has passed" remains a versatile and widely recognized expression. With over 50 examples available, Ludwig confirms the phrase's prevalence and validity in contemporary English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Ten years have elapsed

Replaces "passed" with a more formal synonym, "elapsed", emphasizing the completion of the time period.

A decade has gone by

Uses a more informal and common expression, "gone by", instead of "passed".

Ten years have transpired

Substitutes "passed" with "transpired", offering a slightly more literary or formal tone.

A period of ten years has passed

Adds specificity by explicitly stating "a period of ten years", which slightly increases formality.

The last ten years have passed

Highlights the specific ten-year period leading up to the present moment.

We're ten years on

Uses a more concise and conversational expression, indicating a point ten years after a specific event.

It's been a decade

Shortens the phrase to emphasize the duration of time that has elapsed since an event.

A decade is now complete

Focuses on the completion of the decade, implying closure or the end of a cycle.

Ten years are now behind us

Shifts the perspective to emphasize that the ten-year period is in the past.

The tenth anniversary has come and gone

Specifically references the anniversary, highlighting the passing of ten years since a particular event.

FAQs

How can I use "a decade has passed" in a sentence?

You can use "a decade has passed" to indicate that ten years have elapsed since a particular event. For instance, "A decade has passed since the release of that album."

What phrases are similar to "a decade has passed"?

Similar phrases include "ten years have elapsed", "a decade has gone by", and "ten years have transpired", each offering a slightly different nuance.

Is it more formal to say "a decade has passed" or "ten years have gone by"?

"A decade has passed" is generally considered more formal than "ten years have gone by", with the latter being more conversational.

What's the difference between "a decade has passed" and "a decade passed"?

"A decade has passed" (present perfect tense) implies that the time period connects to the present or has relevance now. "A decade passed" (simple past tense) simply states that ten years elapsed at some point in the past without necessarily linking to the present.