across decades

USAGE SUMMARY

"across decades" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to indicate a span of time that has crossed over multiple decades. Example: "The artist's impact on the music industry has been felt across decades, with his songs remaining popular and influential even today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This legacy of inaction rests across decades.

The Guardian

You're much safer spreading your stock investments across decades".

The New York Times

More works followed in seamless sequence, leaping across decades.

The New York Times - Arts

His stock picking ability extended across decades, investment types, company sizes, and market conditions.

The New York Times

The book flits between countries and across decades; analysis is sparse.

The New Yorker

A comparison of the incidence of cheating across decades is difficult.

The New York Times

The land had deteriorated across decades when it was used as a picnic grounds.

The New York Times

It was this fear that, across decades, sparked the peculiar ruthlessness of his ecclesiastical boundary protection.

The New Yorker

The works on view range across decades and mediums, and shift widely in tone.

The New Yorker

The association's lax, trainer-friendly oversight has been clear across decades of scandal, bankruptcy and racehorse fatalities.

The New York Times

The study is just the latest bid to use huge digital databases to track broad emotional shifts across decades.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "across decades", ensure the context clearly establishes which decades are being referred to, especially if the time period is not explicitly stated elsewhere in the text.

Common error

Avoid using "across decades" without clearly indicating the specific time period. If the decades are not apparent from the surrounding context, specify the relevant timeframe to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across decades" functions primarily as an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the time frame over which an action, trend, or state occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

35%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "across decades" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that indicates a time span encompassing multiple decades. Ludwig AI validates its common usage. The phrase is utilized across a wide range of sources, with a notable presence in News & Media and Scientific publications. When employing "across decades", ensure the context clarifies the specific timeframe to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases such as "spanning decades" or "over the decades" offer alternative ways to express a similar concept, each with slightly different nuances. Therefore, this phrase is a valuable tool for writers aiming to convey long-term trends, changes, or patterns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spanning decades

Emphasizes the act of covering a period of decades, focusing on the duration.

covering decades

Similar to "spanning decades", emphasizing the extent of the period involved.

over the decades

Highlights a retrospective view, looking back at events that occurred during the decades.

throughout the decades

Similar to "over the decades" but implies a continuous presence or action during the period.

for many decades

Indicates a duration of several decades, without specifying the exact period.

extending over decades

Highlights the elongation or continuation of something across a timeframe of multiple decades.

in the course of decades

Suggests that something happens as a result of or during the progression of decades.

over a period of decades

Formal way to specify that something occurred during a certain multi-decade timeframe.

during the decades

Indicates that events or situations took place sometime within the specified decades.

decades-long

Functions as an adjective describing something that lasts for decades.

FAQs

How can I use "across decades" in a sentence?

You can use "across decades" to describe trends, changes, or phenomena that occur over a period of multiple decades. For example: "The research shows consistent results "across decades"."

What are some alternatives to using "across decades"?

Alternatives include phrases like "spanning decades", "over the decades", or "throughout the decades", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Each emphasizes different aspects of the time period in question.

Is it better to say "over decades" or "across decades"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and widely used. "Over decades" typically implies a retrospective view, while "across decades" suggests a broader scope encompassing the entire time period. The best choice depends on the intended emphasis.

How does the meaning of "across decades" differ from "across generations"?

"Across decades" refers specifically to a time span of multiple ten-year periods, while "across generations" refers to changes or impacts experienced by successive family lineages or cohorts.