chronological time

USAGE SUMMARY

"chronological time" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to the passage of time in a linear and sequential manner. You can use "chronological time" in any sentence where you want to specify the specific order or sequence in which events occurred. For example: - "The history book is organized according to chronological time, starting with the ancient civilizations and ending with modern times." - "He organized his research findings in a timeline, showcasing the events in chronological time." - "The movie jumps back and forth in time, rather than following a strict chronological time structure."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fig. 2 shows the 24 h profile of plasma cortisol utilizing our infusion paradigm under dexamethasone suppression (for practical reasons, timing of pulses was not synchronized to chronological time).

Clinical Endocrinology

Chronological time is gone.

The New Yorker

The performer and audience exist together in chronological time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I wanted that structure for this play, and it couldn't be contained in a normal play that pretends to be following normal chronological time.

The New Yorker

One of the most important gods was Chronos, strict clock-time – who would certainly be the god of the leap second – the god of linear, quantifiable chronological time.

The Guardian - Opinion

The ancient Greeks had two words for time: kronos, chronological time, and kairos, which is often translated as "the right time" and cannot be measured.

The New Yorker

In such a play, stage time will follow chronological time almost exactly; and if the drama is broken into three, four, or five acts, the spectator will expect each change of scene to adjust the clock or the calendar.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In diffuse-porous temperate hardwoods and ring-bearing tropical trees, variations in the cells in response to developmental, seasonal, and chronological time may obscure the limits of the tree rings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The first two episodes reintroduced us to Fagin, Ebenezer Scrooge, Mr Jaggers, Miss Havisham, Bucket, Mr Marley, Little Nell and Tiny Tim who now all conveniently live within a 300-yard radius of one another and in the same chronological time zone.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In addition to changes that take place within chronological time, tree species and forests change during developmental time for example, seedlings of trees such as white pine (Pinus strobus) are generally more tolerant of shade than are the adult forms of the species.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The chronological time series model of wind power is also briefly summarized in this section.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "chronological time" when emphasizing the sequential order of events, especially when contrasting it with other concepts of time, such as psychological or subjective time.

Common error

Avoid using "chronological time" when you simply mean a "time period". "Chronological time" is best used when specifically discussing the order or sequence of events, not just a duration.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "chronological time" is as a noun phrase that specifies a particular kind of time—time that is measured and experienced in a linear, sequential order. This function is supported by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

29%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Chronological time" is a commonly used noun phrase referring to the measurement and sequential arrangement of time, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its grammatical function is to specify a type of time, and its communicative purpose is to provide clarity and precision in discussions, often contrasting it with subjective or relative time concepts. As seen in the examples, it is widely used across science, news, encyclopedias and media and academic contexts. While alternatives like "sequential time" or "linear time" exist, "chronological time" is particularly useful when emphasizing objective, measurable time. Be sure to avoid its use when a simple "time period" is meant to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sequential time

Emphasizes the ordered progression of time, similar to "chronological time".

linear time

Highlights the straight-line nature of time's progression, akin to "chronological time".

historical time

Focuses on time as it relates to past events, resembling "chronological time" in a historical context.

clock time

Refers to time as measured by a clock, offering a more specific measure of "chronological time".

calendar time

Indicates time as organized by a calendar system, related to "chronological time" through structured measurement.

time sequence

Highlights the arrangement of events in a temporal order, resembling "chronological time" in event organization.

time order

Focuses on the arrangement of events in a specific temporal order.

real time

Refers to time as it actually passes, similar to "chronological time" but potentially implying immediacy.

fixed time

Emphasizes a set or scheduled time, which relates to "chronological time" through scheduling.

specified time

Highlights a particular moment or duration, referring to "chronological time" in its specificity.

FAQs

How is "chronological time" used in academic writing?

In academic writing, "chronological time" is often used to structure historical analyses, scientific studies, and literary analyses, providing a clear sequence of events or developments. For example, a historical timeline may present events in /s/historical+time.

What is the difference between "chronological time" and 'real time'?

"Chronological time" refers to the linear progression of time, while "real time" refers to events occurring instantly or simultaneously with an event. In computing, real time also means almost simultaneous.

How can I replace "chronological time" in my writing?

Depending on the context, you could use "sequential time", "linear time", or "historical time" as alternatives to "chronological time".

When is it appropriate to use "chronological time" in a sentence?

It's appropriate to use "chronological time" when you want to emphasize the arrangement of events in a temporal order. Sentences where events are listed or analyzed in order of their occurrence are examples of using "time order".