during his lifetime

USAGE SUMMARY

"during his lifetime" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to refer to a specific period of time while a certain person was alive. Example: He accomplished many feats during his lifetime, including writing a best-selling novel.

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Four volumes appeared during his lifetime.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Joubert published nothing during his lifetime.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Cadillacs, mainly: he owned about 100 during his lifetime.

The Economist

Despite requests, he didn't exhibit it during his lifetime.

The New York Times - Arts

Several shorter works by Tolkien appeared during his lifetime.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He never thought it would happen during his lifetime.

The Economist

Yet he did not publish them during his lifetime.

The Economist

Sir Jimmy was never charged with abuse during his lifetime.

Independent

This was his only work published during his lifetime.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Dovlatov was not published in Russia during his lifetime.

The New Yorker

Rued Langgaard went pretty much ignored during his lifetime.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "during his lifetime" to specify that something occurred while a person was alive, providing a clear temporal context for historical events, personal achievements, or other relevant details.

Common error

Avoid using "during his lifetime" when referring to events that happened after a person's death; instead, use terms like "posthumously" or "after his death" to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during his lifetime" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating the time frame in which an action or state occurred. As Ludwig AI also confirms, it's grammatically correct. Examples from Ludwig showcase its use in specifying when events took place.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Wiki

22%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "during his lifetime" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that serves to provide temporal context, indicating that something occurred while a person was alive. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Wiki, and Encyclopedia sources. While generally neutral in tone, it is suitable for various contexts. When using the phrase, ensure it aligns with the intended meaning, referring only to events that occurred before the individual's death. Alternative phrases such as "in his time" or "while he lived" can offer slight variations in emphasis, making it a versatile tool for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in his life

General way to refer to events and experiences within the course of his existence.

while he lived

Directly indicates the period of his existence.

throughout his life

Emphasizes the continuity of events and experiences from birth to death.

while he was alive

Highlights the period of his being living and conscious.

in his days

Focuses on the period when he was actively living and experiencing events.

in his time

Emphasizes the era or period in which he lived, highlighting contemporary events.

in his existence

Refers to the span of his being alive.

all his life

Focuses on the entirety of his life from birth to death.

for the duration of his life

Stresses the entire length of his life as the period in question.

during his existence

A more formal synonym, referring to the period of his being alive.

FAQs

What does "during his lifetime" mean?

The phrase "during his lifetime" refers to the period when a person was alive, from birth until death. It's used to indicate when something occurred within that specific timeframe.

What can I say instead of "during his lifetime"?

You can use alternatives like "in his time", "while he lived", or "throughout his life" depending on the specific context. These phrases all convey the idea of something happening while a person was alive, but with slight variations in emphasis. See also: "in his time".

Is it correct to say "during his lifetime" or "in his lifetime"?

"During his lifetime" is generally more common and natural-sounding. "In his lifetime" is also acceptable but used less frequently.

How do I use "during his lifetime" in a sentence?

You can use "during his lifetime" to add a temporal context to an action, event, or achievement. For example: "He published only one novel during his lifetime".