a lengthy spell of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lengthy spell of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an extended period of time during which something occurs or is experienced. Example: "After a lengthy spell of rain, the sun finally broke through the clouds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

BLUE JAYS 10, ATHLETICS 4 Oakland is too loose a team to fret about the end of a lengthy spell of success.

The New York Times - Sports

Burnley attacked, were, unsurprisingly caught offside and after a lengthy spell of timewasting by Arthur, referee JC Clegg abandoned the game.

The Guardian - Sport

The Met Office's 30-day forecast says "a lengthy spell of hot, sunny weather does look unlikely" for the two weeks starting 30 July, just three days after the London 2012 opening ceremony.

The Guardian

Hill was sent off in added time after being booked twice for fouls on Maddison and Jack joined him down the tunnel after a lengthy spell of mass pushing as Maddison lined up a free-kick.

The Guardian - Sport

England took stock while Marler, after a lengthy spell of on-pitch treatment, was carried off.

BBC

It was the start of a lengthy spell of Chelsea domination, both in terms of possession and territory.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The match saw the return of Chris Barker to the Argyle defence after a lengthy spell on the sidelines because of injury, and manager Paul Mariner was full of praise for his performance.

Wikipedia

Meanwhile, Blues team-mate Kevin Mirallas, 26, is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines because of a hamstring injury.

BBC

Full-back Marc Tierney is determined to re-establish himself in Norwich's first team after a lengthy spell on the sidelines because of injury.

BBC

The Belgium international faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, having been informed of the injury by a specialist in Manchester, and he will undergo further assessment when he links up with the national side later today – although he will not feature for his country in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Croatia and Wales.

Independent

The drop-off, he said, seemed to be the natural result of a player getting used to the rigors of a baseball schedule after a lengthy spell on the disabled list.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a lengthy spell of" to describe a period of time where something is consistently happening or a condition is persisting. Ensure that the context makes the duration and the activity or condition clear.

Common error

Avoid using "a lengthy spell of" when the duration is less important than the event itself. If the focus is on the intensity or impact of a brief event, a different phrase might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lengthy spell of" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as an adverbial modifier to describe the duration of an event, condition or activity. It specifies how long something lasts, as Ludwig AI examples illustrate with "a lengthy spell of rain", "a lengthy spell of bench-warming", and "a lengthy spell of pressure".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

30%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Vice

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Independent

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lengthy spell of" is a phrase used to describe an extended period of time during which something occurs or persists. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, especially in news and sports reporting. It is considered a common phrase, used to emphasize the duration of events, situations, or activities. When using this phrase, make sure the context clearly establishes the relevance of the duration to the overall message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a prolonged period of

Replaces 'spell' with 'period' and 'lengthy' with 'prolonged', emphasizing the extended duration.

an extended duration of

Focuses on the duration itself, using 'extended' to highlight the length of the time.

a considerable time of

Emphasizes the amount of time as being significant or noteworthy.

a substantial stretch of

Uses 'stretch' to suggest a continuous and unbroken period.

a drawn-out episode of

Emphasizes the event or occurrence as being prolonged and possibly tedious.

a protracted interval of

Replaces common words with more formal synonyms.

a long-lasting phase of

Highlights the enduring nature of the phase or stage being described.

a significant chapter of

Suggests that the period is an important part of a larger narrative or history.

a notable timeframe of

Focuses on marking the timeframe as worthy of attention.

an appreciable duration of

Indicates that the duration is easily perceived or recognized as being substantial.

FAQs

How can I use "a lengthy spell of" in a sentence?

Use "a lengthy spell of" to describe an extended period during which something happens or a condition persists. For instance, "After "a lengthy spell of rain", the sun finally appeared."

What are some alternatives to "a lengthy spell of"?

Alternatives include "a prolonged period of", "an extended duration of", or "a considerable time of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "a lengthy spell of" or "a long period of"?

"A lengthy spell of" and "a long period of" are similar, but "a lengthy spell of" often implies a continuous or uninterrupted duration, particularly in contexts like weather or a specific activity. "A long period of" is a more general term.

Can "a lengthy spell of" be used for negative situations?

Yes, "a lengthy spell of" can be used to describe both positive and negative situations. For example, "The company endured "a lengthy spell of financial difficulties"."