expended time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expended time" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It could be used in contexts discussing the amount of time that has been used or consumed, particularly in formal or technical writing. Example: "The project was delayed due to the expended time on preliminary research and development."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They expended time, effort and money to keep me alive.

The Guardian

There would have been no motivation for the developers of these applications to have expended time, effort, and in some cases, their own financial security, in pursuit of their vision if they weren't guaranteed their inventions would have been able to work over any Internet connection.

TechCrunch

Absent any exactness in the answers, I tallied up who was expending efforts and concluded: the issuing bank had expended time and energy; as did the vendors with whom I do business and I too had an expenditure of time and energy.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The Pratts were willing to expend time in place of money.

The New York Times

Great powers cannot always choose where to expend time and energy.

The Economist

The British and U.S. patent offices have long refused to expend time or energy on such claims.

Encyclopedia Britannica

President Obama expends time, energy and political capital to get a controversial stimulus package through Congress — a package that looks as though it could avert a crisis of historic proportions.

The New York Times

"I believe in the end we'll prevail, but we may still incur substantial attorney's fees and expend time and effort away from our clients," said Mr. Mazza, a former regulator at the National Futures Association.

The New York Times

Many other New Jersey Democrats concur that Mr. Bradley was self-absorbed as a senator, reluctant to expend time or political capital on any initiative that was not his own.

The New York Times

Rowan Williams said earlier that if the church got this issue out of the way it wouldn't have to expend time and energy on it for the next 10 years.

The Guardian

When Australian sport originated in the mid-19th century it was dominated by the wealthier classes who enjoyed what American economist and sociologist, Thorstein Veblen, termed in 1899 'conspicuous leisure' time – that is the capacity to expend time in pursuits with no material gain as a type of public display of their elevated social status.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the use of time, consider using the more common and easily understood phrase "spent time" instead of "expended time" for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "expended time" in casual or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "spent time" or "used time" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expended time" functions as a noun phrase where "expended" acts as a past participle modifying the noun "time". It describes the amount of time used or consumed for a particular activity. Ludwig suggests that this phrase, while grammatically correct, is not as common as alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically correct, the phrase "expended time" is not a common expression. As Ludwig AI explains, it may sound overly formal and is often better replaced with simpler alternatives like ""spent time"" or ""used time"". Its use is most appropriate in formal or technical contexts where precision is key, but even then, clarity should be prioritized. Its rare usage suggests careful consideration should be given before choosing "expended time" over its more common counterparts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spent time

Indicates the amount of time used or consumed in an activity, simpler and more common.

used time

A straightforward way to express the consumption or utilization of time.

invested time

Implies a strategic allocation of time with the expectation of future returns or benefits.

dedicated time

Highlights the focused and intentional commitment of time to a specific purpose.

devoted time

Suggests dedicating time to a particular activity or cause with a sense of commitment.

consumed time

Emphasizes the complete utilization of time, often implying a finite resource.

applied time

Indicates the practical use of time for a particular task or application.

allocated time

Focuses on the formal or planned distribution of time for specific tasks.

allotted time

Similar to allocated time, but may imply a more rigid or predetermined schedule.

given time

Highlights time granted or provided for a specific activity or purpose.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "expended time"?

You can use alternatives like "spent time", "used time", or "devoted time" depending on the context.

Is "expended time" grammatically correct?

Yes, "expended time" is grammatically correct, but it's less common and can sound overly formal. Simpler alternatives are often preferred.

When is it appropriate to use "expended time"?

"Expended time" might be appropriate in formal or technical writing where a more precise or emphatic tone is desired. However, consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "expended time" and ""spent time""?

While both phrases refer to using time, ""spent time"" is much more common and widely understood. "Expended time" sounds more formal and less natural.