a fragment of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fragment of time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a brief or small portion of time, often in a poetic or reflective context. Example: "In that fleeting moment, I felt as if I was suspended in a fragment of time, untouched by the chaos around me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

— For some franchises, four years is a fragment of time.

The New York Times - Sports

He reflects on partings--with a fragment of time, or a dream of oneself.

The New Yorker

Such a story - invariably a "fragment of time", to use Blincoe and Thorne's phrase - offers itself as a kind of victim of its own confusion.

The Guardian - Books

The linear passage of time is as frightening as it is inevitable, but to artist Sarah Sze, this is only a fragment of time's complexity.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Similar results were observed for listeners presented with a fragment of time-reversed speech embedded in normal speech (Wood & Cowan, 1995b).

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

"A photograph is a captured fragment of time, a 125th of a second.

BBC

To the majority, Rabaa seemed trapped in time, a fragment of an unworkable past.

The Guardian

There are just a few scraps of evidence from that lost time: a fragment of a story about a love affair, a Penang Buddha, a few photos, a double-one domino with a woman's photograph concealed inside, a billiards trophy.

The Guardian - Books

A second sample was presented, this time a fragment of a real recording, and the subject was told that this example is such that it would receive the highest ratings in terms of audio quality.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

At the same time a fragment of approximately 26 kDa appeared, which most likely represented the C-terminal part of cadherin-9 including the cytosolic domain, a part of the molecule not accessible to trypsin digestion.

Plosone

To address this problem, we have used a method of converting the ontology created by the SBML Harvester to OWL EL, a fragment of OWL that enables polynomial-time automated reasoning.

BMC Systems Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fragment of time" to add a touch of introspection or reflection to your writing, especially when describing moments that are significant but short-lived. For example, instead of saying 'I saw her briefly', consider 'I caught a glimpse of her in a fragment of time'.

Common error

Avoid using "a fragment of time" in overly technical or scientific writing where precision is paramount. More specific terms like 'milliseconds' or 'nanoseconds' would be more appropriate to describe short durations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fragment of time" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in written English. It refers to a small, often disconnected, portion of time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Arts

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fragment of time" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to denote a brief, often meaningful, moment. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English writing. It's commonly found in news, media, science, and art contexts, adding a reflective or descriptive layer to the narrative. While it might not suit overly technical contexts, its strength lies in evoking introspection. Related phrases include "a moment in time" and "a fleeting moment". Use it judiciously to capture the essence of brevity and significance in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a moment in time

Focuses on a specific, brief point in time.

a piece of time

Emphasizes the idea of a portion or segment of time.

a fleeting moment

Highlights the transient and ephemeral nature of the time period.

a brief period

Stresses the shortness of the duration.

a short span

Implies a limited extent or duration of time.

a split second

Refers to an extremely brief and almost instantaneous moment.

a mere instant

Emphasizes the insignificance and brevity of the moment.

a temporal slice

Suggests a segment or segment of time, similar to a slice being cut from a larger whole.

a passing phase

Indicates a temporary and transient period of time.

a quick interlude

Suggests a brief interruption or pause in the flow of time.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a fragment of time" in a sentence?

Use "a fragment of time" to describe a brief, often meaningful, moment. For instance, "In that "fleeting moment", a fragment of time, everything seemed to stand still."

What phrases are similar to "a fragment of time"?

Alternatives include "a moment in time", "a brief period", or "a fleeting moment", all conveying a short duration.

Is "a fragment of time" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a fragment of time" leans towards a more literary or reflective style. In formal or technical writing, more precise terms might be preferable.

What's the difference between "a fragment of time" and "a period of time"?

"A fragment of time" implies a very short, often disconnected, moment. "A period of time" refers to a longer, more continuous duration.