across the span of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "across the span of" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to reference the length of time or distance that something covers or takes place. Example: "Across the span of his career, he achieved great success and recognition for his innovative designs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What does it mean to reside in different locations across the span of a life?

Princeton University

Seen across the span of SundanceNow's retrospective, it's an awkward delicateness that grows into a principle.

The New York Times - Arts

The fact that they are so during mourning is perfectly consistent with their approach across the span of their treatment.

The New York Times - Science

Rather, Levine reveals Wright's larger, more varied, interesting, and complex urbanism, demonstrated across the span of his lengthy career.

Princeton University

If you're interested in working across the span of habitat that species are living in, it's very likely that most of that habitat is under human influence".

The New Yorker

The goal of logistics strategy, then, is to organize companies to compete across the span of their markets without having to overcharge some customers or underserve others.

Harvard Business Review

But football's theatre of the absurd has, of course, been located firmly in Zurich across the span of these crazy last three days.

Independent

Unquestionably antique yet eerily familiar, the likenesses suggest that certain urban faces occur and reoccur, reborn, perhaps, in new bodies across the span of time.

The New York Times

After a showing of The Great Ziegfeld at the NFT she turned to the audience from the front row, swept her arm across the span of the auditorium and smiled.

The Guardian - Film

Once I was over my irritation with commas serving as full stops (a trick I must have learned from Beckett), I found myself looking across the span of my adult life – from 22 to almost 67.

The Guardian - Books

In recent years, a growing body of scholarship has sought to better understand accounts like Shoji's and Sabath's through the framework of "trans-generational trauma," which traces experiences of catastrophic loss across the span of a family or a community.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "across the span of" to effectively communicate the duration or extent of a subject, especially when you want to emphasize the entirety of a period or range. For instance, "The research was conducted across the span of five years."

Common error

Avoid using "across the span of" when referring to specific points in time. This phrase is more suitable for durations or ranges, not isolated moments. For example, instead of saying "Across the span of that moment", consider "During that moment" or "At that time."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across the span of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or noun phrase, indicating the duration or extent over which something occurs or exists. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

31%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "across the span of" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate the duration or extent over which something happens. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct and versatile. It's commonly found in news, scientific, and academic writing to provide temporal or range-related context. While its register leans towards neutral to formal, it remains accessible for various communication styles. Alternative phrases include "over the course of" and "during the period of", each offering subtle nuances. When writing, use "across the span of" to emphasize the entirety of a period or range, and avoid using it to refer to specific points in time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for the duration of

Simple and direct alternative emphasizing how long something lasts.

over the course of

Emphasizes the progression or sequence of events during a certain time.

during the period of

Highlights a specific timeframe in which something occurs or exists.

throughout the duration of

Stresses the entirety of a time period, from beginning to end.

within the limits of

Focuses on the boundaries or constraints of a particular range or scope.

across the timeline of

Highlights the chronological aspect, presenting events or developments in sequential order.

spanning the entirety of

Stresses the comprehensiveness and inclusiveness of the range or duration.

through the extent of

Emphasizes the degree, measure, or scope to which something reaches or stretches.

in the realm of

Focuses on the field, sphere, or domain in which something exists or operates.

covering the scope of

Highlights the extent, range, or comprehensiveness of what is being addressed or included.

FAQs

How can I use "across the span of" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to indicate the duration or range something covers. For example, "Across the span of a decade, the city underwent significant changes".

What are some alternatives to "across the span of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "over the course of", "during the period of", or "throughout the duration of", each offering a slightly different emphasis on the duration or range being discussed.

Is "across the span of" formal or informal?

The phrase "across the span of" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in writing than in casual conversation. For a more casual tone, "over the time of" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "across the span of" and "during"?

"Across the span of" emphasizes the entire duration or range, while "during" typically refers to something happening at some point within a specific period. For example, "Across the span of the project" suggests considering the entire project, whereas "during the project" refers to specific events or activities occurring sometime within the project timeframe.