as time passed

USAGE SUMMARY

'as time passed' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe the passage of time, as in: "As time passed, the project became increasingly complicated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

As time passed, however, they grew disheartened.

The New York Times

As time passed, she tightened her standards.

The New York Times

And as time passed, the buzz grew.

The New York Times

As time passed, his rages got worse.

The New Yorker

As time passed, his cognition improved.

The New York Times - Magazine

As time passed, his anger grew.

The Washington Post

As time passed, their anxiety gradually subsided.

Harvard Business Review

As time passed, I grew frustrated.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

As time passes, it grows increasingly panicked.

The New Yorker

As time passes, memory, inevitably, reconstitutes itself.

The New Yorker

As time passes Buddhism will decline.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as time passed" to smoothly introduce a change or development that occurs gradually over a period. It is effective for narrative flow and establishing a sense of progression.

Common error

Avoid using "as time passed" repeatedly within a short passage. Vary your temporal phrases to prevent the writing from sounding monotonous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as time passed" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating the progression of time. Ludwig shows that it's commonly used to introduce a change or development that occurs gradually.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Encyclopedias

9%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as time passed" is a versatile and commonly used temporal phrase that effectively indicates the gradual progression of events. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for various contexts, particularly in news, encyclopedic, and scientific writing. While highly useful, it's important to avoid overuse and vary temporal phrases for stylistic purposes. Alternatives such as "over time" and "as time went on" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as time went on

Similar meaning but slightly more informal and conversational.

over time

Focuses on the cumulative effect of time rather than the specific passing.

as years passed

Specifies the unit of time, making it more specific.

with the passage of time

More formal and emphasizes the process of time elapsing.

with time

Shorter and less emphatic than the original phrase.

eventually

Highlights the final outcome after a period of time.

down the line

More casual and suggests a point further in the future.

in due course

Suggests that something will happen at an appropriate time in the future.

subsequently

Emphasizes that something follows after a particular event or time.

in the fullness of time

More poetic and implies a sense of completion or fulfillment.

FAQs

How can I use "as time passed" in a sentence?

Use "as time passed" to indicate the gradual unfolding of events or changes. For instance, "As time passed, the initial excitement waned."

What can I say instead of "as time passed"?

You can use alternatives like "over time", "as time went on", or "eventually" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "as time passes" instead of "as time passed"?

Yes, "as time passes" indicates an ongoing or habitual process, while "as time passed" refers to a completed period. The choice depends on whether you're describing something happening now or something that happened in the past.

What's the difference between "as time passed" and "with the passage of time"?

While both phrases indicate temporal progression, "with the passage of time" is generally more formal and emphasizes the process of time elapsing, whereas "as time passed" is more neutral.