a sufficiently long time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sufficiently long time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the duration of an event or process that needs to be adequate for a specific purpose or outcome. Example: "The project requires a sufficiently long time to ensure all aspects are thoroughly addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A study of complex dynamics—in particular, chaotic dynamics—requires a sufficiently long time series of data.

Chaos in Ecology Experimental Nonlinear Dynamics

The creep analysis was run for a sufficiently long time to achieve the steady state creep condition.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

The resulting technique allows the filling and discharge events to be simulated over a sufficiently long time scale.

Chemical Engineering Science

If two bodies are in contact through a thermally-conducting boundary for a sufficiently long time, no further observable changes take place; thermal equilibrium is said to prevail.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Due to good thermal conductivity of structural metal materials, low heat capacity and a sufficiently long time of irradiation the task was treated as stationary.

Fusion Engineering and Design

In particular, using UCN requires homogeneous and stable magnetic fields across the storage volume in order to maintain a spin-superposition state for a sufficiently long time.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

To this end, we introduce probabilistic trajectories as our new features which associate each point over a sufficiently long time period in the presence of noise.

Pattern Recognition Letters

Finally, the scenarios were to have a sufficiently long time horizon and contain clear recommendations for political measures designed to reach the outcomes aimed at by 2050.

Energy Policy

During a sufficiently long time of oxidizing conditions, however, reasonable agreement was obtained between LIPS measurements of [NO] and [SO2] and those of the on-line analyzers.

Combustion and Flame

Still, it does seem to me that there are cases in which the line does cut below the x axis and remains there for a sufficiently long time, perhaps remains there forever, so that the person is better off dead.

Yale University

Smyrna is the only place along his journey where Ignatius stayed for a sufficiently long time to have firsthand knowledge of the state of their church; he knew of the others from informants, who gave him little grounds for worry.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a sufficiently long time", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes 'sufficient' for the intended purpose. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a sufficiently long time" without providing context. If the reader doesn't know what 'sufficient' means in your scenario, the phrase loses its meaning. Instead, specify the duration or criteria for sufficiency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sufficiently long time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the duration for which an action or state needs to persist to achieve a certain result. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

69%

Academia

12%

News & Media

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sufficiently long time" is a versatile phrase used to indicate an adequate duration for a specific purpose. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used across various domains, particularly in science and academia. While the phrase itself is generally neutral, it often appears in more formal and scientific contexts. When using "a sufficiently long time", be sure to provide adequate context to clarify what 'sufficient' means in your specific scenario. Alternatives such as "an adequate duration" or "a considerable period" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an adequate duration

Focuses on the adequacy of the length of time.

a considerable period

Emphasizes the length of time being substantial.

an ample timeframe

Highlights that the time is more than enough for the task.

a protracted interval

Implies a long and possibly tedious duration.

an extended duration

Focuses on the duration being longer than usual.

a reasonable amount of time

Stresses that the time provided is fair and justified.

an appropriate length of time

Indicates that the duration is suitable for the specific situation.

a significant timeframe

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the duration.

a substantial duration

Highlights the considerable nature of the time involved.

a prolonged period

Implies the time is stretched out or extended.

FAQs

How can I use "a sufficiently long time" in a sentence?

You can use "a sufficiently long time" to describe a period needed for a specific outcome, such as, "The experiment requires "a sufficiently long time" to observe noticeable results."

What are some alternatives to "a sufficiently long time"?

Alternatives include "an adequate duration", "a considerable period", or "an ample timeframe", depending on the context.

Is "a sufficiently long time" formal or informal?

"A sufficiently long time" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the surrounding language.

What does "sufficiently long" actually mean when referring to "a sufficiently long time"?

The term "sufficiently long" means the duration needs to be adequate or enough to fulfill a specific requirement or achieve a desired result. The length of the duration is dependent on the activity.