for a century

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for a century" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a time period of one hundred years, often in historical or descriptive contexts. Example: "The ancient ruins have stood the test of time, remaining intact for a century."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We've subsidized oil companies for a century.

The New York Times

For a century, groundwater irrigated local crops.

Stanford University

Concrete is the most used construction material for a century.

Construction and Building Materials

Scholars have been trying to research him for a century.

The New York Times - Arts

Subsequent disputes have kept lawyers busy for a century.

The New York Times

He laid out a strategy for a century of growth.

The New York Times

Yet the elements haven't changed in Antarctica for a century.

Independent

For a century after Darwin, altruism remained a paradox.

The New Yorker

New York's supremacy, unchallenged for a century, is gone.

The New Yorker

Today investors are entrusting money to Mexico for a century.

The New York Times

It has been going on for a century.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is crucial, specify the exact years instead of using the general phrase "for a century".

Common error

Avoid using "for a century" when referring to periods slightly shorter or longer than 100 years, as it sacrifices accuracy for the sake of simplicity. Instead, consider stating more specific figures to avoid misleading readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a century" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the duration of an action or state. As Ludwig states, it's a correct and usable phrase. It specifies a timeframe of one hundred years.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for a century" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed adverbial phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig. It denotes a duration of one hundred years and serves to provide temporal context, highlighting the longevity or historical continuity of a subject. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Science contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse forms of communication. When using this phrase, ensure accuracy and consider alternatives like "over the last hundred years" for clarity. Ludwig's examples confirm its broad applicability, reinforcing its status as a reliable and versatile expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for one hundred years

A more explicit and less idiomatic way of saying "for a century".

in the past century

Similar to the original phrase, but emphasizes the temporal aspect more.

throughout the century

Highlights the continuous nature of something occurring across the entire century.

over a period of a century

More formal and drawn-out way of expressing the same timeframe.

over the last hundred years

Specifies the duration as the most recent hundred-year period.

for the past hundred years

Indicates a period starting one hundred years ago and continuing to the present.

spanning a century

Emphasizes the length of the period and its coverage.

during the last century

Focuses on events that happened during a specific century.

a hundred years ago

Refers to a point in time one hundred years in the past rather than a duration.

in a century's time

Refers to a point in time one century into the future.

FAQs

How can I use "for a century" in a sentence?

Use "for a century" to indicate that something has existed, occurred, or persisted over a period of 100 years. For example, "This tradition has been upheld "for a century"".

What are some alternatives to saying "for a century"?

You can use alternatives like "over the last hundred years", "in the past century", or "for one hundred years" depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "for one hundred years" instead of "for a century"?

Saying "for one hundred years" is slightly more explicit, but "for a century" is generally acceptable in both formal and informal contexts. The choice depends on the desired level of precision and stylistic preference.

What's the difference between "a century ago" and "for a century"?

"A century ago" refers to a specific point in time 100 years in the past, while ""for a century"" indicates a duration of 100 years. For example, "The event happened "a century ago"", but "The tradition has persisted "for a century"".