a reasonable duration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a reasonable duration" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe how long something should take, as in "The task should be completed within a reasonable duration of time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The number of conditions tested strongly reduced the number of samples we could use, as we wanted to maintain an experiment of a reasonable duration.

Nature

So: 35 cities, 30-some songs drawn from the 34 on "Number Ones" and a reasonable duration (a little under two hours).

The New York Times - Arts

They say that it runs contrary to the requirements that there should be equality between parties in trials and that trials should be of a reasonable duration.

The Economist

In the worst case, the cost function is largely multimodal and needs an efficient identification technique to reach an acceptable solution within a reasonable duration.

Composite Structures

For those bands, breaking into America is incredibly difficult due to the high cost of touring and an entry process that often makes it difficult to get in or stay for a reasonable duration.

The Guardian - Music

This study had a reasonable duration but a small sample size.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But long enough is beyond any reasonable duration".

The Guardian - Music

Make it a reasonable length.

WikiHow

A Adam Leitman Bailey, a Manhattan real estate lawyer, says that the law allows a landlord reasonable access to an apartment for reasonable duration and with reasonable frequency.

The New York Times

Now the agency is suggesting that there may be no practical way to demonstrate that a drug can preserve the ability to function in these very early-stage patients during the course of a clinical trial of "reasonable" duration.

The New York Times

Patients are assessed not only prior to, during and at treatment termination, but also during a follow-up period of reasonable duration.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When planning projects or studies, specify what constitutes "a reasonable duration" to set clear expectations and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Don't leave "a reasonable duration" undefined. Always provide context or specific timeframes to ensure your audience understands the expected timeframe.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a reasonable duration" functions as a noun phrase, where 'reasonable' modifies the noun 'duration'. It describes an acceptable or appropriate length of time for a particular activity or process. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a reasonable duration" is a useful way to describe an appropriate or acceptable length of time, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's commonly used in scientific, news, and formal business contexts to set expectations without being overly specific. When using "a reasonable duration", ensure the context clarifies the expected timeframe to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "an appropriate length of time" or "a suitable timeframe". Remember to define what constitutes "a reasonable duration" in your specific situation to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an appropriate length of time

Uses "length of time" instead of "duration", focusing on how long something lasts; "appropriate" implies suitability.

a suitable timeframe

Replaces "duration" with "timeframe", implying a specific period within which something occurs; "suitable" suggests fitness for purpose.

an acceptable period

Emphasizes the permissibility of the time period; "acceptable" suggests that it meets certain requirements or standards.

a justifiable length

Focuses on the defensibility of the length of time; "justifiable" means there's a good reason for the duration.

a fair amount of time

Highlights impartiality; "fair" suggests equality and justice in the allocation of time.

an adequate time

Indicates sufficiency; "adequate" suggests it's enough to meet a specific need or requirement.

a practical time span

Emphasizes the feasibility of the time period; "practical" suggests it's achievable and realistic.

a sensible time

Emphasizes rationality; "sensible" suggests it's logical and reasonable based on common sense.

an expected timeframe

Focuses on what is anticipated to be the length of time; "expected" suggests probability or anticipation.

a tolerable duration

Highlights how bearable the length of time is; "tolerable" suggests it's acceptable despite potential drawbacks.

FAQs

How can I use "a reasonable duration" in a sentence?

You can use "a reasonable duration" to describe the expected length of an activity, such as, "The experiment should be completed within "a reasonable duration" to minimize participant fatigue".

What is an alternative to saying "a reasonable duration"?

Alternatives to "a reasonable duration" include "an appropriate length of time", "a suitable timeframe", or "an acceptable period" depending on the context.

What factors determine what constitutes "a reasonable duration"?

What constitutes "a reasonable duration" depends on context. It's influenced by factors like task complexity, available resources, and stakeholder expectations.

Is it better to be specific about duration instead of saying "a reasonable duration"?

Specificity is often preferred. While "a reasonable duration" implies acceptability, providing a concrete timeframe reduces ambiguity and sets clear expectations.