a span of three months

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a span of three months" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a duration of time that lasts for three months. Example: "The project will take a span of three months to complete, starting from January to March."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The new coach started the next day — for Toliver, charged with executing the coach's vision on the court, it would be her fourth coach, in three countries, in a span of three months.

The Washington Post

In a span of three months in 2016, HNA bought a construction and property development company; a flight catering and airport servicing group in Switzerland with 40,000 employees; a St . Regishotel in Bora Bora, in French Polynesia; a global network of 1,400 hotels, among them the Radisson and Park Plaza brands; and a 28-story office tower in San Francisco.

The New York Times

He gets to see all alien movies repeatedly, deeply and anxiously analyzes the menaces presented onscreen and occasionally even inveigles me into going along, which is how I ended up seeing Independence Day, Men in Black, and Mars Attacks!;65% of my annual time allocated for cinema in 1997;within a span of three months.

Forbes

The "Generation" series includes photos taken over a span of three months.

Huffington Post

In a span of three months in 2002, he lost five family members -- including two of his children -- to muscular dystrophy.

Huffington Post

NBC was tops during November sweeps for the first time in years, but in a span of three months the network fell way behind its competitors.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In a span of six months I lost thirty pounds.

The New Yorker

"You've got to win those four tournaments over a span of four months".

The New York Times - Sports

It was done for a span of two months on New Zealand rabbit model.

Research in Veterinary Science

Over a span of eight months, Dervishi and his associates are said to have performed two dozen operations.

The New Yorker

And really, to form friendships, and relationships, and find joy in their lives here, just within a span of nine months.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a span of three months" when you need to emphasize a specific duration in which events occur or changes take place. It's particularly useful for highlighting the temporal context of a situation.

Common error

Avoid using "a span of three months" when the exact duration is not critical or when a more general term like "recently" or "in the last few months" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or precise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a span of three months" functions as a noun phrase modifying a verb or another noun. It indicates the duration over which an event occurs or a condition persists. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, as seen in various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a span of three months" effectively denotes a period lasting three months, used to provide temporal context. Ludwig AI considers the phrase grammatically correct and usable, as evidenced by various examples from news, science, and wiki sources. Although it's considered a neutral to formal expression, simpler alternatives exist for informal contexts. When writing, consider whether the exact duration is critical; otherwise, general terms might suffice. The primary sources of the phrase include The New York Times, The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a three-month period

Replaces "span" with "period", focusing directly on the duration.

a duration of three months

Uses "duration" instead of "span", emphasizing the length of time.

three months' time

Reorders the phrase to highlight the time frame directly.

a quarter of a year

Expresses the time frame as a fraction of a year.

a period of ninety days

Specifies the time frame in days instead of months.

within three months

Focuses on the time limit rather than the duration itself.

over three months

Indicates a period extending beyond three months.

in the space of three months

Emphasizes the limited time in which something occurs.

a season

Uses a seasonal reference, approximating a three-month period.

roughly three months

Indicates an approximate timeframe of three months.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "a span of three months"?

You can use alternatives like "a three-month period", "a duration of three months", or "a quarter of a year" depending on the context.

Is "a span of three months" formal or informal?

The phrase "a span of three months" is generally considered neutral to formal. Simpler alternatives like "three months" work in informal contexts.

What does "a span of three months" mean?

It indicates a continuous period lasting for three months, typically used to describe the duration over which something happens or extends.

When should I use "a span of three months" instead of "within three months"?

"A span of three months" describes the length of time itself, whereas "within three months" emphasizes that something must occur before the end of that period.