an estimated duration

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an estimated duration" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a time frame that is not exact but is based on a calculation or approximation. Example: "The project has an estimated duration of three months, depending on various factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Type 1 surgeries have an estimated duration of one slot, type 2 of two slots, and type 3 surgeries an estimated duration of three or more slots.

Health Care Management Science

Patients and/or their referring physicians provided an estimated duration of the lesions and the treatments.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Classification into "recent" or "older" refers to an estimated duration of infection of less or more than 120 days.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Prospective recruitment will continue for an estimated duration of one and a half years, until the sample size will be reached.

BMC Cancer

Five studies reported an estimated duration of illness, which varied from a total duration of illness of less than six months to a mean of 30 months.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

For some disciplines, such as physiotherapy and dietetics, an estimated duration was allocated to the occasion of service in some studies [ 6, 12].

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It is notable that slow progressors had a longer estimated duration of symptoms than intermediate or fast progressors, consistent with slow progression.

Alzheimer's Research and Therapy

We also considered this estimated duration as a continuous variable, unlike previous studies that studied length of labour as a binary variable (prolonged labour) and thereby increased their risk of residual confounding.

BMJ Open

The estimated duration is 2 to 4 days.

Smart Learning Environments

†At least one antibiotic prescription to mothers during estimated duration of pregnancy.

British Medical Journal

The longest estimated duration of submersion with good outcome was 25 minutes.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an estimated duration", specify the units of time (e.g., days, weeks, months, years) to provide clarity and context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid presenting "an estimated duration" as a precise figure. Emphasize that it is an approximation and may vary based on unforeseen circumstances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an estimated duration" functions as a noun phrase, where 'estimated' modifies 'duration'. It typically serves to specify the approximate length of something, as evidenced by the examples on Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an estimated duration" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to indicate the approximate length of time for a particular event or process. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently found within scientific and academic contexts, reflecting a formal register. When employing this phrase, it's important to emphasize its approximate nature. Closely related alternatives includes phrases such as "an approximate period", or "a projected timeframe", each carrying a slightly different nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an approximate period

Replaces "estimated" with "approximate", focusing on a near or close value rather than a calculated one. "Period" substitutes "duration".

a projected timeframe

Uses "projected" instead of "estimated", implying a prediction based on current data. "Timeframe" replaces "duration".

an anticipated length

Swaps "estimated" for "anticipated", focusing on expectation. "Length" is used in place of "duration".

a predicted timeframe

Similar to projected, but emphasizes prediction over calculation, "Timeframe" substitutes "duration".

an expected span

Replaces "estimated" with "expected" focusing on anticipation based on previous knowledge. "Span" is used in place of "duration".

a foreseen timeframe

Substitutes "estimated" with "foreseen", implying a prediction based on insight. "Timeframe" replaces "duration".

a calculated time

Uses "calculated" instead of "estimated", implying a computation. "Time" replaces "duration".

a roughly calculated timeframe

Highlights the inexactness of calculation using 'roughly', "Timeframe" substitutes "duration".

a guesstimated period

Combines guess and estimate, implying a very informal approximation; "period" is used in place of "duration".

a rough estimate of time

Highlights the inexactness of the estimation by using 'rough', also reversing the order of the phrase.

FAQs

How can I use "an estimated duration" in a sentence?

You can use "an estimated duration" to describe the approximate length of an event, process, or activity. For example, "The surgery has "an estimated duration" of two hours".

What phrases are similar to "an estimated duration"?

Similar phrases include "an approximate period", "a projected timeframe", and "an anticipated length". The choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "estimated duration" or "approximate duration"?

Both "estimated duration" and "approximate duration" are acceptable. "Estimated" implies a calculation or judgment, while "approximate" suggests a less precise, near value. The best choice depends on the context.

What makes the duration "estimated" rather than exact?

A duration is "estimated" when it's based on calculations, historical data, or expert opinions rather than precise measurement. This is often necessary when predicting future events or analyzing past events with incomplete data.