expected for a while

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expected for a while" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that has been anticipated or predicted over a period of time. Example: "The changes in the policy were expected for a while, so the team was prepared for the adjustments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

No other new projects are expected for a while.

The New York Times

Experienced O'Sullivan watchers will not be surprised by the announcement, which had been expected for a while after an indifferent run of form.

The Guardian - Sport

Though the capitulation of the Nazi regime had been expected for a while, with several German cities already under Allied control, the troops there couldn't just celebrate, either.

The New Yorker

"It has been expected for a while that a greater instability and growing unrest in Syria would be reflected in one way or another in Lebanon," said Mr. Salamey, the political science professor.

The New York Times

On Monday, Time Warner Cable announced what has been expected for a while, saying that in a deal worth up to $8 billion over 25 years, it will carry Dodgers games on the newfangled SportsNet LA starting in 2014 when the team leaves Prime Ticket.

The New York Times - Sports

Other specs on the machine have been expected for a while.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Rapid synthesis after brief exposure is expected for a signal, while longer irradiation (4 h or longer) could provoke a down-regulation to modulate metabolite levels.

BMC Genomics

VDR presented a nuclear localisation, as it would be expected for a nuclear receptor, while CYP27B1 and CYP24A1 enzymes displayed cytoplasmic staining with a granular pattern, which is consistent with their mitochondrial localisation.

BMC Cancer

Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments confirm that the lipids in the domains are immobile (as expected for a gel-phase) while lipids around the domains are highly mobile (see Supporting Information).

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

As expected for quite a while, Samsung has just announced pricing and availability for the Galaxy Note 10.1.

TechCrunch

Figure 4 also add another piece in this puzzle, showing that Cebus infants are weaned later than expected for a NWM of its size while the reverse is true for squirrel monkeys.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "expected for a while", ensure that the context clearly establishes what was anticipated. For example, "The market correction was "expected for a while", so many investors reduced their holdings".

Common error

Avoid using "expected for a while" when referring to extremely short timeframes. This phrase implies a noticeable duration of anticipation, not just a few minutes or hours.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expected for a while" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating that something has been anticipated or predicted over a period of time. As Ludwig AI shows, it's often used to describe events or changes that have been anticipated.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "expected for a while" is a grammatically sound and useful expression that indicates something has been anticipated or predicted over a certain duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While it's considered a neutral expression suitable for different registers, more formal alternatives may exist for academic or business writing. Remember to use this phrase when you need to convey that an event or situation was not entirely unexpected, and that there were prior indications suggesting its occurrence. Be mindful of the timeframe you are implying, as this expression suggests a non negligible duration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expected in advance

Synonymous alternative emphasizing the element of prediction beforehand.

anticipated for some time

Emphasizes the anticipation aspect, suggesting a longer duration of expectancy.

foreseen for a period

Highlights the prediction element and uses "period" to indicate a time frame.

predicted for some time

Directly uses "predicted", focusing on the forecasting aspect over a duration.

long been anticipated

Stresses the length of the anticipation, making it sound more formal.

long anticipated

A shorter and more concise way of saying "anticipated for a long time", emphasizing the duration.

awaited for a duration

Uses "awaited" to express expectancy and "duration" for a specified length of time.

predicted in advance

Highlights that the prediction was made beforehand, focusing on the timing.

anticipated beforehand

Similar to "predicted in advance", but uses "anticipated" to indicate a more emotional expectancy.

something was coming

A less formal alternative, indicating an expected event without specifying a time frame.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is "expected for a while"?

It means that an event or situation has been anticipated or predicted for a noticeable period, not just recently. It suggests that there has been some indication or reason to believe it would occur.

How can I use "expected for a while" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe events or situations others have anticipated: "The company's restructuring was "anticipated for some time", so the announcement didn't surprise employees."

What can I say instead of "expected for a while"?

Alternatives include "anticipated for some time", "long been anticipated", or "foreseen for a period", depending on the desired nuance and formality.

Is "expected for a while" formal or informal?

The phrase "expected for a while" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "anticipated for some time" may be preferred in highly formal writing.