are spent over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are spent over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the allocation or expenditure of resources, such as time or money, over a specific period or for a particular purpose. Example: "The funds are spent over the course of the project to ensure all aspects are covered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Instead, Arsenal say that the "debt service reserves" of £173.3m that were announced in the annual financial results in September are spent over the course of the financial year.

Independent

Afternoons are spent over sandwiches, soups and mint-kissed lemonades.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

My first 11 years of a total of 29 in the sheep business were spent "over there".

Cornell University

Los Angeles and Long Beach are spending over $5 billion between them on infrastructure to cope with ever-larger ships.

The Economist

We have tens of millions of Americans who are spending over a thousand dollars a year.

The Washington Post

Europe's academic institutions and libraries are spending over €383 million (£333 million) on their biggest contracts with scientific publishers.

Harvard University

On average, they are spending over 40% of their net income on housing, where the "unaffordability" yardstick is 35%.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is sending its own message over the airwaves: that fat-cat charter supporters are "spending over a million on false attacks against teachers and public schools".

The New York Times

Taken together they suggest the Conservatives are spending over £1m a year on one website alone.

BBC

"They are spending over a half a billion dollars a year driving cars around and processing that data.

TechCrunch

It is thought Scots are spending over £4bn a year on betting machines which have been branded "crack cocaine" for gamblers.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are spent over", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being spent (time, money, effort) and the duration or scope over which it's being spent. For instance, "Millions are spent over several years to improve public services."

Common error

Avoid using "are spent over" with abstract nouns where it doesn't make sense to quantify the spending. For example, avoid saying "Efforts are spent over the problem" – instead, use "Efforts are focused on the problem."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are spent over" functions primarily as a passive construction, indicating that resources (time, money, energy) are being used or allocated across a specific duration or area. Ludwig indicates this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are spent over" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the allocation or use of resources across a period. According to Ludwig, it's considered grammatically correct, although relatively rare in occurrence. The phrase appears predominantly in news and media contexts, indicating its role in reporting expenditures and resource allocation. When writing, ensure the context is clear about what resources are being spent and the duration involved. Consider alternatives like "are utilized during" or "are allocated across" for different nuances, and avoid using it with abstract nouns where quantification is unclear. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of this usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are utilized during

Focuses on the act of using something within a timeframe, instead of the action of spending.

are consumed during

Emphasizes the depletion of resources over a period, whereas the original phrase is more general.

are allocated across

Highlights the distribution of resources across different areas or periods.

are distributed throughout

Similar to allocated, but emphasizes the spreading of resources throughout a period or area.

are invested throughout

Focuses on investing resources, whether time or money, across a certain period.

are dedicated during

Emphasizes the act of dedicating resources or time to a specific purpose over a period.

are employed throughout

Similar to utilized, highlighting the active use of resources during a time frame.

are devoted during

Focuses on committing resources, usually time or effort, during a particular period.

are apportioned throughout

Emphasizes dividing and distributing resources across a timeline.

are exhausted during

Highlights the complete consumption or use of resources within a given timeframe.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "are spent over" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "are allocated across" or "are distributed throughout", which emphasize a planned distribution of resources.

What's a simple alternative to "are spent over"?

You can use "are used during" for a more straightforward and easily understandable alternative, especially in general contexts.

Is it correct to say "is spent over" instead of "are spent over"?

No, "is spent over" is grammatically incorrect when referring to plural subjects. Use "are spent over" for plural subjects, and "is spent over" only when referring to singular subjects.

What is the difference between "are spent over" and "are spent on"?

"Are spent over" refers to a period or duration, as in "funds are spent over a year". "Are spent on" indicates the purpose or recipient of the spending, as in "funds are spent on new equipment".