during their existence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during their existence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the time period in which something or someone is alive or active. Example: "The species thrived during their existence, adapting to various environmental changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Seattle has yet to appear in a single World Series, let alone win one, managing a grand total of four playoff appearances during their existence.

The Guardian - Sport

We should instead be proud of a welfare state that prevented those children descending into poverty during their existence with him.

The Guardian

Hawkwind (who have had somewhere between 35 and 60 members during their existence) still include someone who was there when it all began.

The Guardian - Music

Because the efficient horizon to maximize profit varies with the individual company and with time, companies should be able to choose whether to be exposed to hedge fund activism and to alter this choice during their existence.

Columbia University

"The present unfortunate propensity of filling tomes of quartos and octavos with marvellous accounts of the lives of men and women, who, during their existence, produced no impression on the publick mind, and who were not known beyond the circle of their immediate friends, or the mountains, which bounded the horizon of their native villages, is preposterous and absurd," Sparks wrote.

The New Yorker

This compares to 33% of all funded companies having filed patent applications at any point during their existence.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Individuals can enjoy or suffer the consequences of their actions only during their embodied existence in the world.

SEP

So imagine how it feels to be Jungle, who've played less than 20 gigs during their short existence and feel like rookies at the best of times.

The Guardian - Music

We also acted too late in reforming the union of the republics, which had come a long way during their common existence.

The New York Times

Igneous rocks associated with sedimentary layers bearing fossils defined as Silurian are the desired targets for geochemical analysis, but few have remained untouched by metamorphism during their long existence.

Britannica

The Brooklyn Americans, major league hockey's sole foray into the borough before the announcement on Wednesday of the semi-imminent arrival of the New York Islanders, were many things during their brief existence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "during their existence", ensure the subject clearly refers to a defined period or entity with a specific beginning and end. For example, it works well with organizations, historical periods, or life spans.

Common error

Ensure that the 'their' in "during their existence" has a clear and unambiguous antecedent. Vague references can lead to confusion, so always specify the group or entity you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during their existence" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the timeframe in which an action occurred or a state existed. Ludwig examples show it clarifies when something happened relative to the lifespan or operational period of an entity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

21%

Science

26%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "during their existence" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that provides temporal context, specifying when events occurred relative to the lifespan or operational period of an entity. According to Ludwig, its usage spans across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. It is suitable for both neutral and formal registers. When using this phrase, ensure that 'their' has a clear antecedent. Common alternatives include "throughout their existence", "in their lifetime", and "while they existed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

throughout their existence

Replaces "during" with "throughout", emphasizing continuous duration.

for the duration of their existence

Adds emphasis to the entire duration.

in the course of their existence

Highlights the sequence of events within the timeframe.

in their lifetime

Focuses on the lifespan of living entities.

over their lifespan

Similar to "in their lifetime", highlighting the entire period of life.

while they existed

A more concise rephrasing using a clause structure.

in the time of their existence

Focuses on the temporal aspect of existence.

during their active period

Specifies the time when they were actively functioning.

through the period of their activity

Rephrases as the period in time.

during their time

Condenses the phrase while retaining its meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "during their existence" in a sentence?

Use "during their existence" to describe events or conditions that occurred within the period a specific entity existed. For example: "The band toured extensively "during their existence"".

What are some alternatives to "during their existence"?

You can use alternatives such as "throughout their lifespan", "while they existed", or "in their lifetime" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "during their existence" or "throughout their existence"?

Both "during their existence" and "throughout their existence" are correct, but "throughout their existence" emphasizes the continuous nature of the action or condition throughout the entire period.

What is the difference between "during their existence" and "in their lifetime"?

"During their existence" can apply to any entity with a defined period, whereas "in their lifetime" specifically refers to living beings. For example, you would say "during the company's existence" but "in their lifetime" when referring to people.