extensive amount of time

USAGE SUMMARY

"extensive amount of time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used when referring to a period of time that is unusually long or greater than what would normally be expected or required. For example, "We've spent an extensive amount of time discussing this issue, and still no solutions have been proposed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

We spent an extensive amount of time with Quinton as far as getting to know him.

The New York Times

We spent an extensive amount of time weighing up the options, looking at returns and ethics of various schemes and found TPP to be the best option".

The Guardian

He vowed to spend an extensive amount of time this week inside the building, where he has temporarily moved his office.

The New York Times

Part of it has to do with the extensive amount of time Mr. Apted spent filming each couple -- about 50 hours for an individual segment running fewer than 15 minutes -- which helped achieve a certain comfort between the filmmaker and his subjects.

The New York Times

Shortly after the Indianapolis 500 began on Sunday, the car crashed and took an extensive amount of time to fix.

TechCrunch

MedLion has spent an extensive amount of time (and attorney fees) on setting up their practice model to avoid running afoul of California's insurance regulations.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

This requires extensive amounts of time and labor and can result in a discrepancy between actual energy savings and calculated results.

Applied Energy

As the authors also stated in their work, Genysis might need extensive amount of running time when using asynchronous model due to their heuristics to select seed states from the state space.

Plosone

We selected S. goodei (chilipepper) [ 47] and S. saxicola (stripetail) [ 48] based on the extensive amount of evolutionary time since their most recent common ancestor (estimated to be greater than 6 million years ago [mya] [ 13], which can give a broader depiction of which functional genes have diverged within this genus.

BMC Genomics

The extensive amount of hardware and computational time for the analysis introduces difficulty and parameter sweeping is not an option.

European Journal of Human Genetics

"Look, from the time she was reported missing on the Friday there were an extensive amount of inquiries conducted by the police," explained Detective Superintendent Hutchinson.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "extensive amount of time", consider whether a more specific timeframe can be included for better clarity and impact. For example, instead of "an extensive amount of time", consider "several months" or "over a year".

Common error

Avoid using "extensive amount of time" as filler language. Ensure that the context genuinely implies a notably long duration. If the time isn't truly significant, opt for simpler phrasing like "a long time" or specify the actual duration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extensive amount of time" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an adverbial modifier indicating duration. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage across different contexts, as shown in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "extensive amount of time" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase that indicates a prolonged duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is versatile, appearing across various contexts like news, science, and general writing. It is crucial to use this phrase thoughtfully, ensuring that the implied duration genuinely warrants the "extensive" descriptor. Alternatives such as "considerable duration" or specifying the exact timeframe can provide greater precision. When using "extensive amount of time", consider the impact and clarity it adds to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extended duration

Uses a different adjective with a similar meaning to "extensive".

considerable duration

Replaces "amount of time" with a single word, emphasizing the length.

lengthy period

Uses a different adjective and noun, focusing on the prolonged nature.

prolonged duration

Similar to "lengthy period" but might suggest a continuous span.

significant timeframe

Emphasizes importance and the duration.

substantial period

Similar to considerable duration but potentially implying greater quantity.

appreciable time

Highlights that the time is easily noticed or substantial.

long timeframe

A more casual alternative, emphasizing the length of time.

protracted interval

Suggests the duration is longer and perhaps unwelcome or tedious.

inordinate delay

Focuses on the negative aspect of time, like being excessive or undue.

FAQs

How can I use "extensive amount of time" in a sentence?

You can use "extensive amount of time" to describe projects, processes, or events that require a prolonged duration. For example, "The research required an "extensive amount of time" to complete".

What are some alternatives to "extensive amount of time"?

Alternatives include phrases like "considerable duration", "lengthy period", or "prolonged duration". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it better to use "extensive amount of time" or a specific time frame?

While "extensive amount of time" is acceptable, specifying a time frame (e.g., "six months", "two years") is often more precise and informative for the reader.

What's the difference between "extensive amount of time" and "large amount of time"?

"Extensive amount of time" generally implies a longer, more significant duration compared to "large amount of time". "Extensive" suggests thoroughness or prolonged duration, whereas "large" simply refers to quantity. Consider using "large amount of time" to express less importance, and "extensive amount of time" if the time is important to the meaning.