a trillionth of a second

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a trillionth of a second" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to time measurement, particularly in scientific or technical discussions. Example: "The experiment was so precise that it could measure changes occurring in a trillionth of a second."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The laser — the equivalent of a flash — fires pulses shorter than a trillionth of a second.

The New York Times

It only lives for a trillionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second".

The New Yorker

What happened a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang?

Cornell University

The scientists fire the laser for just  one-10th of a trillionth of a second.

The New York Times

Higgs boson may go even farther away, a trillionth of a second old, closer to the big bang.

Cornell University

The first episode occurred when the universe was less than a trillionth of a trillionth of a second old.

The New York Times - Science

The laser is fired only seven or eight times a day, and each pulse lasts less than a trillionth of a second.

The New Yorker

More than 3,000 times heavier than an electron, and highly unstable, it exists for less than a trillionth of a second before breaking into smaller elements.

Independent

The Higgs field is thought to have switched on a trillionth of a second after the big bang that blasted the universe into existence.

The Guardian

The new collider will eventually reach temperatures and energies equivalent to those at a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang.

The New York Times - Science

And the size of the grains of time would compare to a hundredth of a trillionth of a second much as that hundredth of a trillionth of a second does to the age of the universe.These minuscule grains would be a consequence of Werner Heisenberg's famous uncertainty principle, an important part of quantum theory.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing scientific measurements or events at extremely short timescales, use "a trillionth of a second" to provide precise temporal context. Ensure your audience understands the magnitude by relating it to familiar events, like the speed of light or subatomic particle behavior.

Common error

Avoid mixing prefixes inconsistently. If you start discussing events in "a trillionth of a second", don't switch to milliseconds without clearly indicating the change in scale. This prevents confusion and maintains clarity.

Linguistic Context

A trillionth of a second functions as a noun phrase, specifically a temporal measurement. It quantifies an extremely short duration of time. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples show it describing the duration of laser pulses or the age of the universe moments after the Big Bang.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a trillionth of a second" is a grammatically correct and commonly used temporal measurement, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It's primarily used in scientific, academic, and news contexts to describe extremely short durations. The phrase is versatile, allowing for precision when discussing laser pulses, the early universe, or subatomic particle behavior. While alternatives like "one trillionth of a second" or "picosecond" exist, the choice depends on the desired level of emphasis and formality. Remember to maintain consistency in prefixes when describing time scales to avoid confusion. Top sources like The New York Times and The Economist frequently employ this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one trillionth of a second

Uses "one" for emphasis or clarity of quantity.

a picosecond

Refers to the same duration using a standard unit of time.

10^-12 seconds

Expresses the duration using scientific notation.

a millionth of a billionth of a second

Breaks down the value into smaller fractions for easier understanding.

an extremely brief moment

Uses a qualitative description instead of a precise measurement.

an infinitesimally short time

Emphasizes the near-zero duration of the time span.

a very short burst

Conveys the brevity of the event with a focus on its transient nature.

an ultra-short time interval

Uses a more technical term emphasizing the interval aspect.

a fleeting instant

Emphasizes the quick passage of time.

a yoctosecond

Although much shorter, it refers to an extremely short time period.

FAQs

How can I use "a trillionth of a second" in a sentence?

You can use "a trillionth of a second" to describe extremely short durations, often in scientific contexts. For example: "The laser pulse lasted only "a trillionth of a second"."

What's another way to say "a trillionth of a second"?

Alternatives include "one trillionth of a second" or using the term "picosecond", which is a standard unit of time representing a trillionth of a second.

Is it better to say "a trillionth of a second" or "one trillionth of a second"?

Both are correct, but "one trillionth of a second" may add emphasis to the quantity. The choice depends on the context and the desired level of precision.

How does "a trillionth of a second" compare to other small units of time?

"A trillionth of a second" is much smaller than "a millionth of a second" or "a billionth of a second". It's used to measure events that occur on extremely short timescales, such as certain subatomic processes.