close to a decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to a decade" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a time period that is nearly ten years long. Example: "The project has been in development for close to a decade, showcasing our commitment to innovation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The ink lasted close to a decade.

The New Yorker

Robert splurged on lawyers, got his assets seized and served close to a decade in prison.

Independent

He developed his expertise by living in high style himself for close to a decade.

The New York Times - Magazine

Well then Spain would be looking at close to a decade of negative nominal output growth.

The Economist

"We have used this vaccine for close to a decade as a pre-school booster.

The Guardian

Companies have been working on vaccines for close to a decade.

The New York Times

After close to a decade of annual declines, recession triggered a sharp spike in suicide.

The Guardian

For close to a decade the young leader has been exercising tyrannical rule over Chechnya.

The Guardian

We have not had an increase in staff for close to a decade".

The New York Times

For close to a decade, many landless have waited fruitlessly for democracy to end that disparity.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Ebenezar: Okay, turning 21 also means you've been cooking for 9 full years--close to a decade.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is important, specify the exact number of years. However, if you're estimating or rounding, "close to a decade" is perfectly acceptable.

Common error

Avoid using "close to a decade" if the actual time period is significantly less than or more than ten years. For instance, don't use it to describe a period of five years or fifteen years, as it would be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to a decade" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating the duration of an action or state. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

21%

Science

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to a decade" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a timeframe of approximately ten years. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and versatility, showing that the phrase is commonly used in news, business, and scientific contexts to indicate an approximate duration. The phrase serves to provide context, specifying how long something has been happening or in effect. For more precise communication, it's best to provide exact durations; however, for general approximations, "close to a decade" is an effective and appropriate choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly a decade

Replaces "close to" with "nearly", offering a more concise alternative with very similar meaning.

almost a decade

Uses "almost" instead of "close to", indicating a time span that is just short of ten years.

approaching ten years

Shifts the focus to the end of the period, emphasizing the impending milestone of ten years.

nearing ten years

Like "approaching ten years", emphasizes the fact that the period is almost at its end.

almost ten years' time

Adds a sense of duration to the approximated time span.

in the neighborhood of ten years

A more informal way of saying approximately ten years, adding a colloquial touch.

around ten years

Simplifies the phrase to indicate an approximate duration of ten years.

about ten years

Similar to "around ten years", offering a simple and direct way to approximate the duration.

roughly ten years

Uses "roughly" as a qualifier, indicating an imprecise estimate of the time period.

for the better part of a decade

Emphasizes that most of the decade has passed.

FAQs

How can I use "close to a decade" in a sentence?

You can use "close to a decade" to indicate a period of roughly ten years, as in, "The company has been working on this project for "close to a decade"."

What are some alternatives to "close to a decade"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly a decade", "almost a decade", or "around ten years" depending on the context.

Is it more accurate to say "close to a decade" or "almost ten years"?

Both ""close to a decade"" and "almost ten years" are generally interchangeable and equally accurate when approximating a time period. The choice often depends on stylistic preference.

What's the difference between "close to a decade" and "a decade"?

"A decade" refers to exactly ten years. "Close to a decade" indicates a period that is approximately, but not exactly, ten years. It suggests a slight deviation from the precise ten-year mark.