a period of around

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a period of around" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an approximate duration of time. Example: "The project is expected to take a period of around six months to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Theresa May has proposed a period of "around two years", after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019, during which our long-term relationship would be finalised.

BBC

If left untreated, HIV will gradually damage a person's immune system over a period of around a decade.

Independent

Mr Saunders questioned Mr Nascimento about a period of around 40 minutes that was absent from the CCTV footage.

Independent

But along the way, over a period of around five years, Cronenberg and Hampton trace a gradual change in their relationship.

The Guardian - Film

The oscillation with a period of around 360 Earth-days is caused by the eccentricity of the planetary orbit and will henceforth be denoted by OP.

Nature

Schouwenaar said: "Since Tim, Lucas and Richard took charge of the UK group at the beginning of 2005 it has undergone a period of around 40% average year-on-year growth.

The Guardian

You both exited the car armed with knives and over a period of around two to three minutes you butchered Lee Rigby – going, as you were well aware, far beyond what was needed to murder him.

The Guardian

"The goal of the project was and is an unconditional, in-depth look at the history of doping in Germany during a period of around 60 years, regardless of the people and institutions involved," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Unite said the research spanned a period of around a year and was based on freedom of information requests, analysis of company reports and clinical commissioning group accounts, as well as the electoral register and register of interests.

The Guardian

The court heard Napier's offending was prolific, with more than 100 indecent assaults committed against 21 pupils aged between eight and 13 over a period of around two and a half years.

The Guardian

The increase of the semimajor axis of the binary leads to an increased oscillation of the eccentricity of the planetary orbit with a period of around 100 (Earth-) years (Fig. 7).

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a period of around", ensure that the context provides sufficient information about the type of period being referred to (e.g., time, oscillation, growth).

Common error

Avoid following "a period of around" with overly precise numbers. For example, instead of "a period of around 3.14159 seconds", opt for a more general estimate like "a period of around 3 seconds".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a period of around" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun (often related to time) by indicating an approximate duration. As Ludwig AI's analysis suggests, it's used to express an estimation rather than a precise measurement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a period of around" is a common prepositional phrase used to indicate an approximate duration of time. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely accepted. It is most frequently found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. When using this phrase, it’s important to avoid following it with overly precise numbers and to ensure the context clearly indicates the type of period being referred to. Alternatives include "approximately a duration of" and "a timeframe of roughly". This phrase is a versatile and useful tool for expressing estimated timeframes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately a duration of

This alternative uses "approximately" to emphasize the estimation of time.

a timeframe of roughly

Using "timeframe" instead of "period" offers a slight shift in focus, while "roughly" maintains the approximation.

an approximate time span of

This option is more formal, replacing "period" with "time span" and using "approximate".

a duration in the vicinity of

This phrase is more verbose, substituting "around" with "in the vicinity of" for a similar meaning.

a length of time close to

Using "length of time" provides a more descriptive substitute for "period", while "close to" indicates approximation.

a span of nearly

Replaces "period" with "span" and "around" with "nearly", offering a slightly different phrasing.

a stretch of almost

This uses "stretch" to describe the duration and "almost" for approximation, creating a more informal tone.

for roughly a duration of

This alternative reorders the words slightly but retains the meaning of an estimated time.

lasting in the neighborhood of

This phrase is less common but provides a clear indication of an approximate duration.

a term of about

Using "term" to describe a period of time combined with "about" for approximation.

FAQs

How can I use "a period of around" in a sentence?

Use "a period of around" to indicate an approximate duration of time. For example, "The experiment lasted for "a period of around two hours"."

What are some alternatives to "a period of around"?

Alternatives include "approximately a duration of", "a timeframe of roughly", or "an approximate time span of".

Is it better to say "a period of approximately" or "a period of around"?

"A period of approximately" and "a period of around" are both grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. The choice depends on the desired tone; "approximately" may sound slightly more formal than "around".

What's the difference between "a period of around" and "a period of exactly"?

"A period of around" indicates an estimated time, while "a period of exactly" specifies a precise duration. Avoid using them interchangeably, as they convey different levels of accuracy.