combined time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "combined time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the total or aggregate duration of multiple events or activities. Example: "The combined time of all the meetings today exceeded four hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She finished with a combined time of 1 35.94.

The New York Times - Sports

Her combined time was 1 minute 43.45 seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

He had a combined time of 1 minute 42.48 seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

They had a combined time of 1 57.67.

The New York Times - Sports

She won in a combined time of 2 21.67.

The New York Times - Sports

The winner is the skier with the lowest combined time.

The New Yorker

Lange had a combined time of 1 minute 43.23 seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

Zettel had a combined time of 2 minutes 20.13 seconds.

The New York Times

The winner is the one with the lowest combined time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Her combined time was 1 minute 45.79 seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

The combined time schedule for each behavioral component was obtained.

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "combined time" in sports contexts, ensure clarity by specifying which runs or legs are being combined. For instance, "The skier's combined time for the two runs was impressive."

Common error

Avoid using "combined time" when you mean events occurring at the same time. "Combined time" refers to the total duration of multiple events, not events happening concurrently. For simultaneous events, use phrases like "at the same time" or "concurrently".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "combined time" functions as a noun phrase that often acts as the subject or object of a sentence. It indicates a total duration calculated by adding individual time segments. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "combined time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that denotes the total duration resulting from the summation of individual time segments. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread application. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, it serves to quantify and compare durations across multiple events or activities. While similar to terms like "total time" and "cumulative time", "combined time" specifically highlights the aggregation of distinct time intervals. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure it accurately represents the intended meaning and isn't confused with the concept of events happening simultaneously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

combined duration

Similar to "combined time", but explicitly specifies that it is a length of time.

total duration

Focuses on the overall length without implying separate contributing intervals.

aggregate time

A more formal term for the sum of multiple time periods.

cumulative time

Emphasizes the accumulation of time over a sequence of events.

overall time

Refers to the entire duration from start to finish, potentially including breaks.

total elapsed time

Focuses on the time that has passed from the beginning to the end of an activity.

joint time

Indicates a shared time investment by multiple entities.

total period

Highlights the entire duration, often used in scheduling or project management.

summed time

A straightforward way to describe adding time values together.

composite time

Suggests the time is made up of distinct components that have been merged.

FAQs

How is "combined time" typically used in sports?

In sports like skiing or bobsledding, "combined time" usually refers to the total time taken to complete multiple runs or legs of a race. The athlete or team with the lowest "aggregate time" wins.

What's the difference between "combined time" and "total time"?

"Combined time" specifically implies that you're adding up different periods to get a sum. "Total time" is a more general term that can refer to the entire duration of a single event or the "cumulative time" of multiple events.

When is it appropriate to use "combined time" in a non-sports context?

You can use "combined time" whenever you need to express the sum of multiple time intervals, such as the "total duration" of several meetings or the amount of time spent on different parts of a project.

Is "combined time" interchangeable with "cumulative time"?

While similar, "cumulative time" often implies a progressive accumulation over a series of events, while "combined time" simply denotes the sum of distinct time periods. Depending on the context, alternatives such as "total elapsed time", or "aggregate time", may be more appropriate.