at a stretch of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a stretch of" is not commonly used in written English and may be considered awkward or unclear.
It can be used when referring to a situation that is somewhat exaggerated or not entirely accurate, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "You could say that he is a genius, but only at a stretch of the imagination."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Some of the annoyances can be understood, even if only at a stretch of the credulity.

The Economist

Time, to the Tralfamadorians, is the way humans "can look at a stretch of the Rocky Mountains," Pilgrim explains.

The Washington Post

He stopped to photograph pile-driving on a construction site below; walking on, he shook his head at a stretch of preserved rail track running along the path.

The New Yorker

FISH TAG Michael Psilakis's fourth go-round in this space takes on seafood, at a stretch of raw bar in the front half and in a dining room beyond.

The New York Times - Food

Some people might dream of a park view, or the glitter of skyscrapers at night, but looking at a stretch of water — with cute tugboats chugging along, or a graceful flotilla of sailboats — is really my dream.

The New York Times

The mean (standard deviation) engineering stress in the fibre direction at a stretch of 0.7 was 22.47 kPa (5.34 kPa) at a strain rate of 22,000%/s and 38.11k Pa (5.41 kPa) at a strain rate of 37,800%/s.

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

But not at Waters Edge at Arverne, a stretch of 130 town house condominiums Mr. Riso's company, the Briarwood Organization, built between Far Rockaway's boardwalk and the A train's rust-streaked overpass in Queens.

The New York Times

We were walking our dogs at Sandy River Delta, a stretch of grassy meadow near the Columbia River.

The New York Times

With considerable media fanfare, the unusual team managed to cover at least a stretch of the ultimate migratory route.

Yale University

His staff organised a leaving party on Sunday evening in a ballroom at Glen Echo Park, a stretch of greenery just outside Washington.

The Guardian

"He played the big points a little better than I did," said Sampras, who has not won a title since last year at Wimbledon, a stretch of 15 tournaments.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at a stretch of" to describe a physical space, consider if a more specific descriptor (e.g., "section", "segment", "distance") would provide greater clarity for your reader.

Common error

Avoid using "at a stretch of" when a simpler preposition like "along", "across", or "over" would suffice. This can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a stretch of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying nouns or verbs by providing information about location, extent, or duration. It adds detail regarding the scope or range being considered, as evidenced by the examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at a stretch of" functions as a prepositional phrase that describes the spatial or temporal extent of something, or suggests some sort of exaggeration. Ludwig examples demonstrate its versatility across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. According to Ludwig AI, although acceptable, it is better to use more standard expressions. While versatile, consider if a simpler preposition or more specific descriptor might offer greater clarity. The frequency analysis reveals the phrase as commonly used, particularly in news and media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

across a section of

Highlights the spatial extent or portion involved.

over a distance of

Specifically indicates the length or range covered.

for a continuous span

Emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of the time or distance.

along a segment of

Similar to "across a section of", but implies a linear path.

over a portion of

Highlights a specific fraction or part of something.

for an extended period

Focuses on the duration without necessarily implying continuity or exaggeration.

for a sustained duration

Focuses on the prolonged nature of an event or activity.

during a period of

Shifts focus to the temporal aspect, emphasizing the occurrence within a timeframe.

for a straight time

Emphasizes the lack of interruption or breaks.

in a row

Conveys consecutiveness or succession, especially in events or occurrences.

FAQs

How can I use "at a stretch of" in a sentence?

You can use "at a stretch of" to describe a continuous area, distance, or time period. For example, "The missile landed at a stretch of Israeli land". You can also use it to suggest a situation that is somewhat exaggerated.

What phrases are similar to "at a stretch of"?

Similar phrases include "across a section of", "over a distance of", or "along a segment of", depending on the context.

Is "at a stretch of" a formal or informal expression?

"At a stretch of" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally more common in writing than in everyday speech.

When is it better to use a simpler preposition instead of "at a stretch of"?

If you can replace "at a stretch of" with a simpler preposition like "along", "across", or "over" without losing meaning, it's often best to do so for conciseness.