appreciable amount of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appreciable amount of time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a significant or noticeable duration of time that is worth considering. Example: "The project took an appreciable amount of time to complete, but the results were worth the wait."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"We are aiming to market this to retail owners, fast food restaurants and any business where the owners may spend an appreciable amount of time offsite," Smith says.

Forbes

Though fifteen years is an appreciable amount of time, it's still not enough.

Huffington Post

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore). said that Vitter was holding the bill "hostage" and spending "an appreciable amount of time undermining that bipartisan foundation" of the bill with the amendment.

Huffington Post

The disturbance tracked westward through August 8, and following another deep burst of convection that persisted itself for an appreciable amount of time, had finally gathered enough organization to be classified as a tropical depression at 1800 UTC on August 8.

Wikipedia

The times spent in each corner were treated as independent as an appreciable amount of time was also spent in the remainder of the pool.

Behavioural Brain Research

To substantially underestimate the fraction of protein divergence due to accumulating slightly deleterious mutations, the past population sizes of both species would have to have been considerably smaller than estimated for an appreciable amount of time.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

All floating point operations take appreciable amounts of time, so it's important to optimize the design.

The Firmware Handbook

This complete or 'fast' NOx sorption capability of LNTs for appreciable amounts of time is what makes these catalysts useful for automotive NOx emission abatement.

Catalysis Today

Attempting to reach learning goals from multiple content areas in the context of such projects, as described by Moore et al. (2014), can also take appreciable amounts of time to implement.

International Journal of STEM Education

Since most cells do not depolarize beyond 0 mV, at least not for appreciable amounts of time, this represents the more physiologically relevant parameter in regards to the inhibitory effect of clofazimine.

Plosone

This evidence can be explained considering that the species studied are close enough in evolutionary time that an appreciable amount of variance among loci is going to be due to coalescence processes, even if every locus has an identical substitution rate.

Rice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appreciable amount of time" to emphasize that the duration being discussed is significant enough to warrant attention or consideration. It's often more impactful than simply stating "some time".

Common error

While grammatically correct, consistently using "appreciable amount of time" in casual conversation or informal writing can sound overly formal or stilted. In such scenarios, opt for simpler alternatives like "a good while" or "quite a bit of time" to maintain a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appreciable amount of time" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. According to Ludwig, it indicates a duration that is significant and worthy of consideration. Examples show its use in describing the time spent on tasks or the duration of events.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

29%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "appreciable amount of time" is a grammatically correct phrase that functions as an adverbial phrase to emphasize the duration of an activity or event. While Ludwig identifies it as a correct and usable phrase, its frequency is uncommon, appearing more often in Science and News & Media contexts. For writing guidance, it's best practice to use this phrase to highlight significant durations, but avoid overusing it in informal settings where simpler alternatives may be more appropriate. Related phrases include "considerable duration" and "significant period". Overall, it is a useful phrase for adding emphasis and precision when discussing time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable duration

Focuses on the length of time, emphasizing its substantial nature.

significant period

Highlights the importance and length of the time span.

notable timeframe

Emphasizes that the time period is worth mentioning or taking into account.

substantial interval

Underscores the length of the interval, suggesting it's more than trivial.

extended duration

Highlights the prolonged nature of the time.

lengthy spell

Implies a continuous period that is relatively long.

protracted period

Emphasizes that the period is unusually long or drawn out.

respectable timeframe

Suggests the time period is of a decent or reasonable length.

remarkable span of time

Highlights the unusual or noteworthy nature of the time period's length.

considerable amount of hours

Quantifies the period into more concrete duration which are hours.

FAQs

How can I use "appreciable amount of time" in a sentence?

Use "appreciable amount of time" to emphasize that a task, process, or event requires a noteworthy duration. For example: "Learning a new language takes an "appreciable amount of time" and dedication."

What are some alternatives to "appreciable amount of time"?

You can use alternatives such as "significant period", "considerable duration", or "substantial interval", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "appreciable amount of time" or "significant amount of time"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations. "Significant amount of time" might be slightly more common, but "appreciable amount of time" adds a subtle emphasis on the noteworthiness of the duration.

When is it appropriate to use "appreciable amount of time" in writing?

It is appropriate in formal and semi-formal writing when you want to stress that a particular activity or process takes a considerable and noteworthy duration. It adds a sense of importance to the time investment.