decade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decade" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a period of ten years, often in the context of discussing trends, events, or changes over that time span. Example: "The fashion industry has seen significant changes over the last decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Sport

Business

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Thanks to energy exports, Kazakhstan is central Asia's most prosperous state, with annual economic growth averaging about 10% for much of the first decade of the new millennium.

The Guardian

It made an arthouse star of Soderbergh and a heavyweight of his backer, Harvey Weinstein, whose studio, Miramax, would come to define quality American cinema over much of the next decade and, perhaps, help to destroy it too (read Indiewire's excellent piece on sex, lies for more on its legacy).

The Guardian - Film

While Vargas has been an immigrant activist for several years, he has been a writer and reporter for more than a decade.

The Guardian

Jim Killock, the executive director of Open Rights Group who last month warned the right to privacy could be meaningless within a decade under Labour and Tory plans, said he hoped politicians of all stripes would oppose the reintroduction of the bill.

The Guardian

I am 36 and have been single for over a decade.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Over the following decade the ketogenic diet was developed: a strict programme enforcing a 4 1 ratio of fats to proteins and carbohydrates.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

And everyone knows that the only thing that can even come close to matching a decade-old repeat of Top Gear in terms of witty banter is a dank polling booth set up in an abandoned church hall on a drizzly Thursday afternoon".

The Guardian

He said hundreds of young men like him, who were drawn to a Sunni jihad after the US invasion, do not believe that the latest manifestation of the decade-long war remains true to its origins.

The Guardian

In an adjacent area of north Wales woodland, David Cameron orders a future inquiry into a decade-old inquiry about abuse in a children's home.

The Guardian

Over the past decade, Kazakhs have experienced a steady reduction in individual rights.

The Guardian

The same can't be said, though, of the boom of the past decade.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "decade" to refer to a period of ten years when discussing historical trends, social changes, or long-term developments.

Common error

Avoid using "decade" loosely. It strictly refers to a period of ten years. If you're referring to a slightly longer or shorter period, use phrases like "around ten years" or "approximately a decade" for greater accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The word "decade" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a period of ten years. As shown by Ludwig, it is commonly used to define timeframes and discuss events occurring within them. Ludwig AI validates the term's grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Lifestyle

15%

Sport

12%

Less common in

Business

10%

Opinion

8%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "decade" is a common and grammatically correct noun used to denote a period of ten years. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to provide temporal context across diverse fields such as news, lifestyle, and sports. Ludwig's examples highlight its prevalence in discussing historical trends and future projections. When employing the term, clarity is key; specify the "decade" whenever necessary and consider alternative phrasing like "ten years" to maximize contextual precision. While "decade" enjoys widespread usage, be mindful of common errors such as using it imprecisely. Overall, mastering the nuances of "decade" enhances the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ten years

Replaces "decade" with a more literal and straightforward expression of the same time period.

a period of ten years

Offers a more formal and descriptive way of referring to a "decade".

a ten-year period

Similar to "ten years", but uses an adjectival phrase to describe the period.

ten-year span

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the ten-year timeframe.

decennium

Provides a less common, more technical synonym for "decade".

ten-year timeframe

Offers a more technical or project-oriented way to describe the ten-year period.

the last ten years

Focuses on a recent "decade", adding a sense of recency or retrospection.

within a decade

Indicates that something will happen before the end of a period of ten years.

over the decade

Highlights occurrences or trends throughout a period of ten years.

in ten years

Specifies a point in the future that is ten years away.

FAQs

What does the term "decade" mean?

A "decade" refers to a period of ten years. It can refer to a specific period, such as the 1990s, or any ten-year period.

How can I use "decade" in a sentence?

You can use "decade" to refer to a specific period of ten years or a general timeframe. For example, "The 1980s were an iconic decade" or "I haven't seen my cousin in over a "period of ten years"".

What can I say instead of "decade"?

Alternatives include "ten years", "decennium", or "a period of ten years", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a decade ago" or "one decade ago"?

"A decade ago" is more commonly used and sounds more natural than "one decade ago". Both are grammatically correct, but "a decade ago" is preferred in most contexts.