a millionth of a second

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a millionth of a second" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
You can use it to emphasize how short a period of time is, such as when describing something that happens very quickly. For example: "He kicked the ball before the goalkeeper had any chance to react, it was all over in a millionth of a second."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

A microsecond is a millionth of a second.

The New York Times

And, at the speed of light, clocks need to be synchronised at the microsecond level (a millionth of a second).

Independent

A thousandth of a second is known as a millisecond; a millionth of a second is a microsecond.

The New Yorker

"I now look forward to studying a tiny piece of what the universe was made of just a millionth of a second after the Big Bang".

Independent

When his gizmo is activated, colliding protons should recreate within a millionth of a second the theoretical Big Bang that produced the universe all those eons ago.

The New York Times

Careful timing of radio pulsars shows that they are slowing down very gradually at a rate of typically a millionth of a second per year.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

THE Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a machine which will measure events that happen within a millionth of a billionth of a billionth of a second.

The Economist

THE Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a machine whose experiments will measure events that happen within a millionth of a billionth of a billionth of a second.

The Economist

This is perhaps the most exciting question of all, because we currently have many reasons to think they hearken back to a time much earlier than 380,000 years after the Big Bang, and may have been created a millionth of a billionth of a billionth of a billionth of a second into the history of our universe.

The New York Times

And by fractions, we mean about a millionth of a billionth, of a billionth, of a billionth of a second after it all got going.

BBC

(A femtosecond is a millionth of a billionth of a second).

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing processes in fields like high-frequency trading or particle physics, this phrase helps convey the incredibly short timescales involved.

Common error

While accurate, using "a millionth of a second" in everyday conversation might sound overly technical or formal. Consider simpler alternatives like "a split second" or "instantly" for general audiences.

Linguistic Context

"A millionth of a second" functions primarily as a noun phrase that specifies a very short duration of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is valid in written English. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in scientific and technological contexts, often relating to the speed of processes or events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a millionth of a second" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase across diverse contexts, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news, encyclopedias, and scientific literature, it serves to precisely denote extremely short time intervals. While its technical nature makes it suitable for scientific and technological discussions, simpler alternatives like "a split second" or "instantly" might be more appropriate for casual conversation. Remember to use this phrase judiciously to maintain clarity and avoid sounding overly formal in everyday contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one microsecond

Specifies the quantity of time explicitly, using scientific nomenclature, differing from the original's descriptive approach.

a millionth part of a second

Uses a more descriptive phrasing, emphasizing the fraction of a second involved rather than using a specific term.

a micro-instant

Synthesizes the concepts of smallness and instantaneity, creating a compound term for a very brief period.

an extremely brief moment

Generalizes the timeframe, moving away from the precise duration to imply brevity.

a fleeting instant

Emphasizes the quick and transient nature of the time period, differing in its poetic tone.

a split second

Indicates a very short duration, but is less precise, serving as a common expression for quick actions.

a mere instant

Highlights the insignificance of the time passed, differing in its focus on minimal duration.

in the blink of an eye

An idiomatic expression for a very short time, relying on common understanding rather than literal measurement.

an imperceptible moment

Focuses on the difficulty of perceiving the duration, diverging slightly from simple time measurement.

a scintilla of time

Implies an extremely small, almost immeasurable amount of time, using a less common and more evocative word.

FAQs

How can I use "a millionth of a second" in a sentence?

You can use "a millionth of a second" to describe events that happen extremely quickly. For instance, "The computer executed the command in "a millionth of a second"."

What's another way to say "a millionth of a second"?

Alternatives include "one microsecond", "a split second", or "an instant", depending on the level of precision required.

Is it appropriate to use "a millionth of a second" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "a millionth of a second" might sound overly technical in casual settings. Consider using simpler terms like "instantly" or "quickly".

What fields commonly use the term "a millionth of a second"?

This phrase is frequently used in fields like physics, computer science, and high-frequency trading to describe incredibly short durations that are critical to understanding certain phenomena or processes.