a tenth of a second

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tenth of a second" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing time measurements, particularly in contexts like sports, science, or technology where precision is important. Example: "The runner finished the race in just a tenth of a second faster than his previous record."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The drop takes about a tenth of a second.

The New Yorker

About a tenth of a second, Seaward calculated.

The New York Times - Sports

It lasted about a tenth of a second.

The New York Times - Sports

McArdle was a tenth of a second slower.

The New York Times - Sports

"I lost by a tenth of a second," Eberharter said.

The New York Times - Sports

She was a tenth of a second ahead of O'Neill.

The New York Times - Sports

"It took her a tenth of a second, and then she understood the point".

The New York Times

"But that may be a tenth of a second at the end of a race.

The New York Times - Sports

That's about a tenth of a second quicker than a 1,001-horsepower 1,001-horsepower

The New York Times

It takes no more than a tenth of a second to complete most transactions.

The Economist

At the turn, Phelps's lead was down to a tenth of a second.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is key, use "a tenth of a second" to convey exact timing in contexts such as sports commentary, scientific measurements, or technical specifications.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the importance of "a tenth of a second" when it's contextually insignificant. While crucial in some fields like competitive racing, it may be negligible in everyday situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tenth of a second" functions as an adverbial of time, specifying the duration of an action or event. Ludwig provides numerous examples where it modifies verbs to indicate how long something takes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sports

35%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a tenth of a second" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a very short duration. As shown by Ludwig, it finds frequent use in news reporting, sports commentary, and scientific contexts, where precise measurements are crucial. While seemingly insignificant in everyday situations, this tiny fraction of time can be decisive in competitive settings or critical technological applications. When communicating about such contexts, keep in mind that alternatives like "0.1 seconds" or "100 milliseconds" may offer improved clarity or precision, depending on the audience. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is indeed correct and suitable for various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one-tenth of a second

Uses a numerical expression instead of the article "a".

0.1 seconds

Expresses the time duration using decimal notation.

100 milliseconds

Converts the duration to milliseconds for greater precision.

a fraction of a second

Indicates a very short but unspecified duration.

a split second

Emphasizes the brevity and suddenness of the duration.

an instant

Refers to an extremely short, almost imperceptible moment.

a fleeting moment

Highlights the transient nature of the brief duration.

a blink of an eye

Compares the duration to the speed of a blink.

in no time at all

Focuses on the immediacy and quickness of an event.

momentarily

Expresses that something happens very briefly.

FAQs

How do you write "a tenth of a second" numerically?

You can express "a tenth of a second" numerically as "0.1 seconds".

What is an alternative to "a tenth of a second" that uses different units?

An alternative using different units is "100 milliseconds".

When is "a tenth of a second" considered a significant amount of time?

"A tenth of a second" is significant in contexts like competitive sports, high-speed data processing, and scientific measurements where precise timing matters.

What's the difference between "a split second" and "a tenth of a second"?

"A split second" implies a very short duration, whereas "a tenth of a second" provides a specific, measurable timeframe.