double the time

USAGE SUMMARY

"double the time" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to multiply the original amount of time by two. Example: "The project deadline has been extended, so we now have double the time to complete it." This means that the original allotted time for the project has now been doubled.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

If correct, that would double the time of human occupation.

The Guardian

Rush hour can easily double the time of a commute.

The Economist

She estimated that this would double the time needed for an average inspection.

The New York Times

That is more than double the time in a healthy economy.

The New York Times

Vudu says that it's pushing the studios to double the time period.

The New York Times - Tech

For Carman, who is visually impaired and uses screen-reading or magnifying software, accessing that information can take double the time to get through — and often longer.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The use of a U.S. flag air carrier doubles the time en-route.

Yale University

It felt like it doubled the time it took to get through clinic for awhile.

The New Yorker

This essentially doubles the time needed to complete the surveys.

BMC Health Services Research

Always be sure to double check the time.

WikiHow

The caseload of specialists doubled in the time period studied.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "double the time" in instructions, ensure the original time is clearly stated or easily understood by the reader. For example, instead of saying "double the time", say "double the cooking time, which is normally 30 minutes".

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating what time is being doubled. Saying "we need to double the time" without specifying the original duration can lead to confusion and miscalculations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "double the time" functions primarily as a verb phrase acting as an instruction or a statement of fact, indicating a multiplication of a duration by two. Ludwig AI provides examples from various contexts to support this function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

28%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "double the time" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the concept of multiplying a duration by two. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase appears frequently across diverse fields like news, science, and general instructions, showcasing its broad applicability and neutral formality. When using "double the time", it's crucial to specify the base duration to avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity. Alternatives such as "twice the time" or "duplicate the duration" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. Ensure all calculations are clear when providing direction or when setting expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

double the length of time

Adds the word "length" before "time" to emphasize the duration.

duplicate the duration

Replaces 'double' with 'duplicate' and 'time' with 'duration', emphasizing a precise replication of the time period.

increase the time twofold

Uses 'increase' and 'twofold' to express the doubling effect, focusing on the action of extending the time.

multiply the time by two

Replaces 'double' with the explicit mathematical operation, making the increase more quantitative.

make the time twice as long

Rephrases the concept to highlight the elongated duration.

extend the time by 100 percent

Emphasizes the proportional increase of the time, framing it as a percentage.

give twice the amount of time

Focuses on providing or allocating the extended time period.

expand the time frame

Replaces 'double' with 'expand' and 'time' with 'time frame', suggesting a broadening of the period.

add the same amount of time again

Descriptive and conversational, focuses on the act of adding the identical time period.

increase time to twice its original value

A more formal way of saying double time, but it works to define the new values as precisely as possible.

FAQs

How can I use "double the time" in a sentence?

You can use "double the time" to indicate a multiplication of a duration by two. For example, "The new strategy will double the time we spend on research and development."

What is a similar expression to "double the time"?

Similar expressions include "twice the time", "duplicate the duration", or "increase the time twofold". These phrases all convey the idea of extending a duration by a factor of two.

Is it correct to say "doubled the time" instead of "double the time"?

Yes, "doubled the time" is a correct, though uses a different verb tense. "Double the time" is often used as an infinitive or imperative, while "doubled the time" indicates that the action of doubling has already occurred.

When is it appropriate to use "double the time" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "double the time" in various contexts, such as instructions, project planning, scientific experiments, or when describing changes in duration. Ensure the context clearly establishes what duration is being doubled.